Boss Ian Evatt praised the belief of his side and Wanderers’ travelling fans as the Whites kept their League One challenge in top gear with a fourth successive league win, writes Pete Oliver.
Over 1,300 travelling fans were at Shrewsbury to see the Whites also chalk up a fourth win in a row away from home as second-half goals from midfield men Paris Maghoma and Aaron Morley secured a gutsy 2-0 victory.
The result lifted Wanderers level on points with second-placed Oxford and within three of leaders Portsmouth.
And Evatt was delighted with the way his players battled to overcome a Shrews’ side which had been unbeaten in their previous four home games and went into the game with the joint meanest home defensive record in the division.
“We’re delighted. Absolutely delighted because this is a tough place to come,” said the Wanderers’ manager.
“They’re a big, physical and strong team. We had to be patient as they set up very well and frustrated us at times. We spoke about doing the basics really well and I thought we did that.
“We had to dig deep and we did. This group are capable of that. People have pointed the finger at these types of games in the past and it’s great to answer some of our critics.
“The belief is there for all to see and we don’t want to be labelled a soft touch because this group isn’t that and they battle and scrap in our way.
“We have a clear brand and identity for what we want to do but you’re not going to win every game playing the beautiful way. The way we defended set plays was as good as I’ve seen against that type of physicality.”
Wanderers’ resolute performance, which laid the platform for Maghoma’s 65th-minute opener and a classy injury-time clincher from Morley, yielded a third successive clean sheet and an eighth win in nine matches in all competitions.
The Whites have two fixtures to go before the next international break with Evatt’s former club Blackpool next up at the Toughsheet Community Stadium on the back of a fifth away success of the season in front of another superb mid-week following.
“The away support again on a Tuesday night was just immense and it’s so important to myself, the players and the staff,” added Evatt. “We want to send a huge thank-you to all of those who travelled.
“There no doubt that it’s a huge win but it’s only one win. We’re not getting carried away. It’s only a third of the season in and we’ve got a huge game on Saturday which means an awful lot to me.
“It was a brutal game and we came out of it with a few bangs and bruises so it’s about re-setting and getting ready for Saturday now.”