Shrewsbury Town analysis: John Marquis shows the value of a finisher

The Salop frontman guided his Shrewsbury side to a 2-1 victory in South Yorkshire against Barnsley at the weekend - a region he has done quite well in this season. 

Town have been on a 15-match winless run. The last time they won was the away victory against Rotherham back on February 8, and guess what? Marquis' 77th-minute goal was the winner. 

His goals at Oakwell were his 11th and 12th of the season, and given Shrewsbury's fairly disastrous League One campaign, which has ended in a demoralising relegation to the fourth tier of English football, he will probably regard his season as moderately successful from a personal point of view. 

Of course, the low point will be the red card he received at London Road against Peterborough in a crucial relegation six-pointer. No Shrewsbury fan will forget that day in a hurry. It was so avoidable. 

But Shrewsbury's next highest scorers see George Lloyd with five, while Jordan Shipley and Tom Bloxham have both managed four. 

Marquis clearly knows where the net is especially considering he has played for a team who have only taken 33 points from their 45 games. They have not exactly been banging down the door to score goals. 

With Town dropping down a level, he might be a good fit as a striker to have in League Two next season. After all, he has proven if you give him the chances he will score. 

What his goals did do on Saturday was guide Town to their third away win of the campaign on what was their last outing on the road. 

Michael Appleton's comments after the game, where he hinted that negotiations over a new contract have been held up due to other things above him, are interesting. 

He says his contract may have been lower down on the club's pecking order of late. 

That could mean they are making good progress with a takeover, in terms of nearing a deal. Or it could mean they are inundated with enquiries, and Appleton's future is not a top priority right now. 

Either way, there will be clarity as to his future, as he says 'one way or the other' this week. 

Since he has taken over the team, they have managed to implement the identity which he set out to install when he took the role on. 

That was on show at Oakwell as Shrews once more attempted to play football. 

They are trying to pass the ball forward and make more entries into the final third, and that is something they did on Saturday in South Yorkshire. 

Salop started the game well, and they had the ball in the net when Mal Benning converted George Lloyd’s cross with a sublime volley at the back post. 

Sadly, the former Port Vale man was flagged offside, and the effort did not count. 

Toto Nsiala had not started a league match for Shrewsbury since he was sent off against Mansfield early in February. 

But the 33-year-old played a vital part in the game's opening goal. It was his excellent cross-field ball that got Luca Hoole away on the right side. He got the better of his opposite number and pulled it back to Marquis - who finished for his 11th of the campaign. 

The home side did respond after they went behind. Marc Roberts' shot went over the bar when he should have done better, and Jamal Blackman denied Adam Phillips at the back post. 

Luca Connell was bright for the hosts, and his effort from distance skimmed the top of the crossbar late in the half. 

On the whole, Town would be pleased with their efforts at the break.

Both sides had chances upon the resumption. Blackman denied Phillips' powerful shot, and Max Watters was unable to smuggle a bouncing ball over the line. 

At the other end, after not looking like scoring since they took the lead, Lloyd hooked the ball towards goal, and Joe Gauci produced a wonderful save to claw it away. 

The second goal did come. Marquis got his second of the afternoon. Callum Stewart made a positive run forward and carried the ball to the byline. He crossed it for the striker, and his audacious backheel went into the corner. 

With 12 minutes remaining, Barnsley pulled a goal back. Benning failed to deal with a cross from the left, and Jon Russell arrowed the ball into the corner. 

Four minutes were added at the end of the match, but Shrewsbury held on for Appleton’s first win. 

The boss has already signalled his intent to add to the win next weekend when they welcome Crawley to the Croud Meadow to bring down the curtain on their campaign. 

Decisions on players and their futures will come shortly after that, and then the hope will be for a better campaign next time out.