Jamie Tolley: Shrewsbury Town have lift-off - let’s see what the new boys can bring

Everyone turned up on Saturday knowing what was at stake. The fans, the players, the staff - there was a feeling that this was a game Shrewsbury simply had to get something from. And they did.

It was about being gritty, resilient and determined, particularly at the back, and protecting that clean sheet. Then, at the other end, the skipper stepped up and nicked a goal.

For a squad coming off the back of a difficult week following the Fleetwood defeat, it was pretty much the perfect afternoon. A home victory and a first clean sheet of the season were exactly what Town needed.

And once again, captain Will Boyle was the hero. It is incredible how often he manages to pop up when Shrewsbury need him.

We all talked about the goal against Barnet last week that never was, with Boyle desperately trying to get the ball over the line. This time, he made sure there was no doubt.

I am absolutely buzzing for him because it was a proper captain’s performance.

There was an incident late on when certain players were not in the right positions and Boyle let them know about it. He was demanding more from those around him and making sure everyone understood what was required.

I have been crying out for that for two years, so it was brilliant to see him step into that role.

Tom Anderson also deserves huge credit. We all know the circumstances surrounding him at the moment, but he came into the team and put in a really solid performance. It showed what a good professional he is and, more importantly, what a good man he is.

If we are being honest, Sam Stubbs would probably have started and Anderson would not have been on the pitch had Stubbs been available. But football is a funny game.

It is a blow to lose Stubbs, but Anderson did fantastically well. If he gets the nod again, he can go into the next game with plenty of confidence after Saturday’s display.

There was also a new face on the bench in Michael Golding, and I imagine everyone is excited to see what he can bring.

His CV certainly catches the eye. He has made an appearance for Chelsea and moved to Leicester in a multi-million-pound deal.

I am always a little sceptical of moves like that, though. The only thing that matters now is what he can do in League Two.

I will reserve judgement until we see him playing, but he is a fresh face and, by all accounts, someone who can bring something different to the squad. I am looking forward to seeing him.

Kian McMahon-Brown joins from Burnley and, for me, he is the most exciting of the new arrivals. Hopefully, he can have an impact similar to Iwan Morgan last season.

I have spoken to Dave Edwards and he is really excited about Kian and what he can offer. It sounds like he is confident and has that grit and determination which can be rare in young players.

I am looking forward to seeing him in the match shirt and finding out how he fits into the group.

Then Lino Sousa checked in, joining after gaining experience across the EFL. He has done it before and knows what it is like to go out on loan, so hopefully that bodes well and he can hit the ground running.

Aston Villa is not too far away, just up the motorway, so it is probably an ideal move for him. It is a good opportunity for him to prove himself.

And then there is Rochdale tonight, with the madness of transfer deadline day going on around the game.

Ian Watson is now in charge there, having previously managed South Shields, who I watched Town play in the FA Cup last season.

That South Shields side was a really good footballing team. They were brave, took risks and wanted to play out from the back.

I expect Rochdale to have some of those same characteristics.

For Shrewsbury, it will be about being brave themselves. They need to be on the front foot, be aggressive and get in Rochdale’s faces.

There is a little bit of momentum now. There is certainly more confidence after finally getting that first league win.

Town can go there, express themselves, be solid and see what happens.