Positives for Shrewsbury Town despite defeat - match analysis and pictures

Town's display against the promotion-chasing Robins at the County Ground – where they had won nine of their previous 12 league games – was a major improvement on last weekend's 3-0 hammering at home to Rotherham.

In fact it was the best they have played for some time, but as had been the case against MK Dons two weeks earlier, the performance did not yield the result it deserved.

Instead they slipped a place in the League One relegation zone to third-from-bottom and have now lost 10 of their last 14 matches.

If Town can match the level of attacking potency they showed on Saturday more frequently, they still have every chance of escaping their current predicament – but only if they can also tighten up their leaking defence which has now shipped nine goals in the last three games.

Shrewsbury were the better side for much of the second half and looked the most likely to take three points, but two appalling defensive lapses late on ended up costing them very dearly.

In fact, all three of the goals they conceded had been entirely preventable and undermined what had been, overall, a very encouraging display.

Jackson, who has been handed the reins for the next three games following Graham Turner's resignation, had ordered his team to be more attacking and they duly delivered on that front albeit after a nervous start.

Midfielder Jon Taylor had to be alert to turn behind a very dangerous right-wing cross inside the opening six minutes.

And Town keeper Chris Weale survived a scare a minute later when Swindon debutant Michael Smith hammered over from the middle of the box.

The ex-Charlton man, who signed for the Robins earlier in the week, beat the floundering shot-stopper to a corner but could not keep his effort underneath the crossbar.

It was a significant let-off but the tide began to turn at that point as Town began to find their rhythm, aided by a pulsating wind which ripped through the County Ground in the direction of Swindon's goal.

Paul Parry – who got the nod at left-wing ahead of Sidney Schmeltz – fashioned Town's first decent chance with a well-aimed ninth-minute corner.

Joe Jacobson generated plenty of power with his header from the edge of the box, but it lacked the accuracy to trouble Town stopper Wes Foderingham. At the other end, Town skipper Tamika Mkandawire got a vital touch on Smith's excellent right-wing cross after the striker had out-muscled Parry on the flank.

But Town were looking pretty solid by this time, passing the ball with confidence, and Swindon were becoming noticeably frustrated as they struggled to really open up the visitors.

Shouts of 'forward' could be heard as early as the 20th minute as the hosts were frequently forced to play the ball back as attacks broke down. And the hosts were having great difficulty getting the ball over the halfway line from goal- kicks and clearances which were being blown back into the Robins' half by the battering wind.

New Town loan signing Fraser Fyvie, who was making his debut having arrived from Wigan on Thursday, was also thriving in the heart of Town's midfield, breaking up several attacks and shielding Town's back four strongly.

Meanwhile, fellow middle man Taylor was proving a handful with his darting runs and dribbling ability. And he tested Foderingham's reflexes from a tight angle after Dave McAllister and Tom Eaves had combined well to move the ball out wide on the edge of the box.

The hosts continued to look vulnerable as Jacobson saw a goalbound header scrambled off the line after the Robins had failed to deal with another testing Parry corner.

At the other end, Nathan Byrne managed to draw a decent save from Weale after a quick burst into the box – but Town were looking comfortable as the half-hour approached.

There was little sign of the defensive frailties that had seen them ripped open three times in the opening 21 minutes against Rotherham last weekend.

Unfortunately, a timely reminder arrived on 30 minutes when Smith pounced on some deplorable defending to grab a debut goal.

Town simply didn't react quickly enough to a short-corner routine and missed chances to clear deep inside their own box before Smith drilled home the loose ball.

The game fell flat approaching half-time as the heavens opened and both sides struggled to string more than a few passes together.

But Town got back into the match in spectacular style when Parry hammered home a 25-yard thunderbolt after an indirect free-kick.

The conditions were ideal for long-range shooting in that direction, although the goal looked to owe more to great technique than the wind, giving Foderingham no chance.

The soaking conditions were also proving hazardous at the other end, though. Weale was almost left red-faced as he allowed Alex Pritchard's low drive to spill out of his hands momentarily. Luckily, the former Yeovil keeper recovered quickly and was able to knock the ball clear of the onrushing Smith before he could capitalise.

Foderingham then had his defence to thank after he could only parry Taylor's powerful stoppage-time effort, which was then scrambled clear.

Town had to endure another let-off early in the second half as no-one in a blue shirt picked up substitute Ryan Harley's left-wing cross to the far post.

Fortunately, Smith had read the situation just a fraction too late himself and arrived just in time to see the ball drift behind for a goal-kick.

A miscued volley from Taylor almost had the hosts in trouble as it cannoned off an oblivious McAllister and over the bar.

And McAllister then also missed the target on the follow-up after Asa Hall crashed a header off the crossbar from 10 yards out. The woodwork also came to Swindon's rescue just minutes later when Parry's driving 25-yard finish was tipped onto the post by the diving Foderingham.

The hosts had their chances too – only Connor Goldson's vital touch prevented second-half substitute Nile Ranger restoring Swindon's lead, from Harley's cross.

And Massimo Luongo had Weale scrambling with a daisy-cutter from the edge of the box which went wide.

But Eaves, who was causing the full-backs all kinds of problems with his strength and running by this point, should have put Town in front after capitalising on an error by Swindon skipper Darren Ward.

The Bolton loanee found himself one-on-one with Foderingham from only a few yards out but did not get the shot away quickly enough, allowing the keeper to push the effort wide.

And Town were made to pay for that let-off in the final minute of normal time as Weale scuffed a punch from Pritchard's corner, allowing Ranger to head home.

It was an horrific goal to concede and worse was to follow as another defensive blunder, this time by Goldson, allowed Ranger to put Smith in the clear for his second goal of the afternoon.

It was rough justice following a fine overall display, but Town cannot afford to dwell on their disappointment as they face Colchester tomorrow in a game which now takes on even more significance for the visitors in light of recent results.