Shrewsbury Town notebook: Spirited signs, a front two, bright outlook and no subs?

Response

Cowan was delighted at full-time but he was at a loss to explain his side’s extremely poor first 20 minutes.

Shrewsbury did not get going and while goalkeeper Will Brook was not at his best for the opener, it was thanks to Brook the deficit was not 3-0.

Cowan revealed Town had been down at a southern base for more than 24 hours having travelled from Shropshire on Monday, and felt his side would be raring to go. It was quite the opposite.

But, for as bad as the opening was against the fired-up basement boys, the response was equally admirable. Shrewsbury found a foothold after half hour, but it was after a few half-time home truths that Cowan’s side really came out firing and were too strong for the Red Devils.

Flourishing partnership

Central to the success was the goalscoring duo spearheading Shrewsbury’s attack, Josh Davison and George Lloyd.

The pair have endured rocky patches in front of goal over the years, instead credited with a relentless work rate.

But both made it four goals for the season as they netted in the second half to turn the contest around and Broadfield Stadium. Davison’ brace doubled his account for the season and Lloyd maintained his recent good form.

Ex-Town captain John Marquis, the veteran of almost 200 career goals who left the club this summer, watched on in support of his old team-mates and would’ve been happy with some of the positions and finishing.

More encouraging still is the signs of link-up between Davison and Lloyd. The latter teed up the former for Shrewsbury’s first with a wonderful flicked header. They seem to be developing a natural understanding.

Effective Town front twos are rare. Hopefully one is on the cards here.

Bright outlook

Town made it back-to-back victories for the first time this season - and first time since February, when it was five on the spin amid Cowan’s rescue act.

It was also consecutive away wins - at Grimsby and Crawley and such a timely turnaround in form can inspire confidence that Shrewsbury can deliver on Cowan’s public belief and mix it among the top half of League Two this term.

It may be easy to get carried away seeing Shrewsbury up to eighth and just goal difference away from the play-offs, but the picture can quite literally change in an instant in what is an outrageously compact division. That winning goal lifted Town into the top half up from a far more uncomfortable position.

What the victories are doing is lifting the club away from the danger zone and trapdoor. Nobody wants a repeat of last season, which was too close for comfort - and Shrewsbury are doing the groundwork to ensure those fears stay away, with he head coach choosing to look up. Third-bottom Rotherham are Saturday’s hosts.

No subs

It was the peculiar sight of no substitutes made by Cowan throughout.

He had few options, in truth, with two suspensions adding to some fitness absentees. Youngsters Jeval Thompson-McKenzie and Hugo Aiston were among the substitutes, as was recently fit-again Michael Golding.

Cowan touched on the “calculated risks” of introducing youngsters into the lion’s den at all-important times. The fact he remained with the same 11 throughout also tells a story of just how dominant and impressive the visitors were in that second period.