Shrewsbury stronger for additions to skipper

Six new signings have arrived to replace the seven who have left, and all have figured in the last two games.

Andy Mangan scored the winner at Cardiff in the FA Cup when Jack Grimmer and Larnell Cole played.

Then Richie Wellens, James Wallace and Kyle Vassell made their debuts as half-time substitutes in Saturday's 3-0 home defeat to Barnsley.

Knight-Percival himself has taken the armband after the departures of James Collins and Liam Lawrence.

The skipper said: "All the lads are settling in well. It's great to have new lads in because it can give you a little lift sometimes, which it may have done.

"There's a lot of experience which is very good. When you're in the position we're in, it's vital to have experience like that in the team."

Mellon has done 13 deals so far and Knight-Percival admits he has never known such a busy window.

He said: "I don't recall anything quite so busy, but it's good to see new lads come in. Hopefully they'll help the team and improve us, because ultimately that's why the manager brings them in.

"He's done his research on all the players to complement the players we already have."

Saturday's defeat left Town in the League One drop zone for the first time since August, but Knight-Percival maintains morale hasn't been affected.

He said: "We're disappointed to lose, but we're aware of how we can fix things and improve so things like that won't happen again.

"We know the position we're in, but it's more a case of approaching each game individually.

"Of course we're looking at the bigger picture and improving as a team, but you have to take each game as it comes."

Knight-Percival has admitted his part in Saturday's defeat, after being partly at fault for the first two goals.

He said: "We made fundamental mistakes – individually myself – and as a defensive unit, it was pretty basic stuff,.

"It's a case of needing to be consistently better because we know we're capable of it."