“Warrior” Sam Stubbs earns praise from Gavin Cowan after Shrewsbury Town winner

Gavin Cowan praised match-winner Sam Stubbs as a “warrior” following Shrewsbury Town’s victory over Tranmere Rovers.

Stubbs rose highest to power home the decisive goal in Salop’s narrow win over the League Two strugglers last Friday.

The defender has now scored Town’s last two goals, with his 55th-minute header their first since his dramatic winner at Chesterfield last month.

His all-round performance - particularly his defensive work alongside the goal - earned high praise from Cowan.

“I just think when you talk about being willing to get hurt, that's what I mean,” said Cowan.

“If you see his performance, the amount of headers he goes in for and the bravery, it's the same with his goal. I just felt like he was rock solid today.

“Stubbs is a leader, so sometimes he wants to do too much. We had a bit of a laugh about that in the week, through gritted teeth.

“But then you saw today, when he simplifies his game and he trusts our process, then you just see how good he can be.

“He's a warrior of a defender, but when he trusts our process, that's what you get.

“He's really connected. He's a real good character around the place. I thought he epitomised that whole willing to get hurt mentality.”

Stubbs had been frozen out under previous boss Michael Appleton but returned to action in Cowan’s first game in charge against Barnet.

After a brief spell out of the side, he has re-established himself in recent weeks, starting all but one of Salop’s last six matches.

The victory ended a four-game losing run and provided a significant boost in Town’s bid to secure safety.

Cowan added: “The biggest thing I focused on was the players wanting to play for the shirt.

“Be willing to get hurt - not actually go and get hurt - but be willing to get hurt.

“I think you saw with some of the performances how dogged we were and how we needed to dig in from time to time.

“In the first half I felt like we were very much on top, but needed to be braver and get on the ball.

“Then in the second half, there was a 20-minute spell where we scored the goal within that as well, where we just showed a lot of bravery.

“Understandably, the players have had a tough season, so they get a little bit nervous and we're on the back foot.

“Not overly concerning, but when you don't put away some of the chances that we created in the first half and in that 20 minutes, then 1-0 is always a danger.”