Graham Turner wants Shrewsbury Town defensive mean machine

Graham Turner today urged his Shrewsbury Town defensive mean machine to come to the fore during the League Two run-in, declaring: "It can win us promotion."

Town's clean sheet in last Saturday's 1-0 victory over Burton Albion was their first in six outings. And Turner believes a glut of shut-outs between now and the end of the season could be the key ingredient in helping Shrewsbury landing one of the three automatic promotion berths.

"We have talked about the fact that promotion could be won on the number of clean sheets we keep because we always looked capable of scoring a goal," said the Town boss.

• Watch a video tribute to Town boss Graham Turner

"I thought we looked very solid against Burton and Chris Neal came and made some crucial catches from set plays late in the game

"But it's about defending as a team. I thought we did that very well against Burton and for the much part against Crewe and we have to keep that going."

Meanwhile, Turner has backed Romaine Sawyers to bounce back from a disappointing full home debut against Burton last week.

The 20-year-old was replaced at half-time after getting the nod ahead of Jon Taylor in the right wing slot for the Greenhous Meadow clash.

But Turner is confident Sawyers – who under the terms of his youth loan played for his parent club West Bromwich Albion in a 3-0 reserve team friendly defeat at Arsenal yesterday – will quickly recover.

"He has shown in training he is a very good player and has the capabilities of making a good career in football," added the Town boss.

"He has done okay going on in a few games wide on the right but it's not his favoured position out there.

"It's a little bit of a scar on his confidence but he will get over it."

Full-back Joe Jacobson felt slight discomfort after returning from a groin strain against Burton but was expected to train today and be fit for Saturday's long trip to Plymouth.

See also:

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• Ian Sharps playing for new Shrewsbury Town contract

• Shrewsbury Town warned not to let up