Shrewsbury Town alive and clicking - match analysis and pictures

Jackson's team produced a display, against one of their main rivals for the drop, that epitomised both words as they reinvigorated their survival chances.

There was plenty of quality to admire from Town too as they bossed the first 60 minutes of a gritty but always intriguing contest.

But they had to dig deep in the final third of the match as Graham Westley's side finished strongly. They survived the loss of midfielder Asa Hall, who was sent off for two bookable offences late on, as well as a surprising seven minutes of injury time, to make it back-to-back home wins and lift themselves two places in the League One relegation zone.

Town had started the day bottom of the division – two points from safety – with Stevenage one place and one point better off.

While Jackson had felt questions from some supporters regarding his team's commitment to the cause had been wide of the mark, he had urged his team to get out of the traps quickly to get the fans on their feet.

They did not disappoint either as a re-jigged starting XI, containing five changes from that which lost at the Banks's Stadium, hit the ground running.

Right midfielder Jon Taylor, who came in for the suspended Joseph Mills, set the tone after six minutes with a well-struck low drive that had Boro keeper Chris Day scrambling to turn the ball around the post.

Paul Parry, who replaced Ryan Woods, also posed plenty of problems early on the opposite flank and Boro also looked vulnerable to balls over the top.

With so much at stake for both sides, some robust challenges were always likely and the first arrived inside 10 minutes when Craig Reid and Aaron Wildig collided. Neither player's challenge looked particularly clever but Reid's appeared the more dangerous and referee Richard Clark thought long and hard before brandishing only a yellow card. Wildig had to briefly leave the field briefly for treatment

Town left-back Joe Jacobson could have no complaints about his own booking five minutes later after he brought down Reid.

Darius Charles caused a moment of panic when he waltzed past three or four Town players in a winding run towards goal, but Wolves loanee Dominic Iorfa read his intentions and cut out his pass to Lucas Akins.

But Town were looking the more threatening side and almost went ahead with a swift counter-attack. Skipper Tamika Mkandawire pounced on a loose ball on the edge of the box and after a swift one-two with Taylor, drew a fine save from Day with a 25-yard thumper.

Shrewsbury were playing with purpose and confidence, and they were denying Stevenage any time on the ball – and the crowd were responding to their efforts.

Tom Eaves, who returned to the starting line-up alongside Celtic loanee Bahrudin Atajic in place of Sam Foley and Shaun Miller, was not far away with a deflected effort that drifted just wide. The combination looked promising from the off, with Eaves working tirelessly as the target man and Atajic sitting deeper, causing problems with his close control and passing ability.

Strongly

Town goalkeeper Chris Weale – restored to the starting line-up in place of Joe Anyon after 10 games on the bench – was untested for the first 40 minutes. But Boro, who replaced Simon Heslop with Michael Doughty just before the 30-minute mark, finished the half strongly.

Akins drew a regulation save with a curling effort from the edge of the box and then threatened from a dangerous cut-back at the far post.

And after Jacobson had nodded over from a fine Parry corner at the other end, Francois Zoko missed a great chance to put his team in front. He escaped his marker deep in the box but could only direct Akins' cross straight at Weale from a few yards out. It was a big miss and Town almost punished the visitors – who replaced the injured Charles with Tom Flanagan at half time – within two minutes of the restart.

Atajic clipped a delightful ball to the unmarked Parry on the left of the box but Day was equal to his goal-bound half volley.

Both sides showcased their vulnerability defensively in the ensuing 10 minutes but Town struck the decisive blow on 56 minutes when top-scorer Jon Taylor slotted home from Iorfa's accurate through-ball.

Stevenage were looking ragged as Town pressed. Curtis Obeng and Luke Freeman went into the book for poor challenges within two minutes of each other. But the visitors regrouped and an end-to-end final third ensued.

Eaves, Hall and Jacobson all went close for the hosts, with Day being forced into two good saves.

At the other end, Weale made a dramatic double save late on. Stevenage substitute Filipe Morais and Freeman were both denied from close range before Iorfa, who enjoyed an outstanding game at right-back, cleared the danger.

Town substitute Ryan Woods then forced another save from Day.

After Hall was given his marching orders for the hosts, Parry produced a superb block to deflect Smith's stoppage-time effort over the bar.

Iorfa should have sealed the points deep into injury time after outpacing the last defender following Sam Foley's pass, but he drilled straight at Day. It was soon forgotten, though, as the final whistle sounded.

At full-time, Jackson could reflect on a satisfactory display in which all five of his changes paid off.

Defensively Town looked solid and kept a fifth clean sheet in 14 games under Jackson's watch. They had kept five in 30 under Graham Turner previously.

The Eaves-Atajic strike partnership also looked promising, and, given Town have struggled to convince in this area for much of the campaign, surely they should be given a second run together against Tranmere on Saturday. Having said that, neither found the score sheet and goals still remain in short supply.

The loss of Hall through suspension will limit Jackson's already severely limited central midfield options for that pivotal trip to Prenton Park.

But with Tranmere (19th), Carlisle (20th) and Crewe (21st) all winning as well on Saturday, Town desperately needed three points to keep them in the survival hunt.

Town remain two points from safety and may need six points from their next two games, which includes another relegation six-pointer against Crewe, if they are to beat the drop.

They will almost certainly need to reproduce the same tenacious display they managed at the weekend in Birkenhead next weekend.

But they can only stay up if they are winning games and this 1-0 win represents another small but significant step towards that goal.