Shrewsbury Town 2 Bristol Rovers 0 - Report and pictures

Analysis

A second consecutive win was fully deserved as Town dealt with everything the visitors had to offer.

Goals from Louis Dodds, his third in three games, and an Ian Black penalty had Greenhous Meadow rocking.

Boss Paul Hurst was sent to the stands but will not care an iota after seeing his side keep a fifth consecutive home clean sheet - Salop have still not conceded under his stewardship.

The result lifts Town to 21st, now only out of the bottom four on goal difference.

Town's shortcomings in numbers meant that Hurst named two academy prospects on the bench, second year scholar Ryan Sears, an adaptable defender was named on the substitutes bench alongside Ryan Barnett.

With suspensions to Adam El-Abd, Gary Deegan and Ivan Toney, Jack Grimmer, Ian Black and more noteworthy Sylvan Ebanks-Blake the line-up.

It was the ex-Wolves man's first start since September 17.

Gas skipper Tom Lockyer wasted no time in worrying Town's makeshift backline, connecting with a Colkett header and flicking the Salop crossbar.

While a couple of early chances went against the hosts they quickly asserted themselves and began silencing the boisterous away support.

A couple of fine moves sent warning shocks to the Rovers defence and it came as no great surprise that Shrewsbury edged ahead while in the ascendency.

Dodds, in a rich vein of form, became the club's outright top scorer with seven after tapping home following a crucial Will Puddy error in the Gas goal.

Shrewsbury were relentless in their high press and not letting Bristol settle, silencing their away following while continuing to create chances of their own.

The only blow come half-time was just a one-goal lead. There were a handful of occasions that Town sent fizzed crosses right across the Rovers box with no-one there to apply a finishing touch.

Rovers boss Darrell Clarke sent on Ellis Harrison and Chris Lines at the break and the latter began to make a difference, with an obvious half-time rollicking have an affect on the visitors.

But for all of the Gas' balls into the box, they could not find a way through a resolute and accomplished Town back line.

Mat Sadler was one to really step it up in the second period. The defender, back at left-back having switched from centre-half, was central to Town's solid defending and dealt with everything thrown at him.

In front of him, skipper Abu Ogogo epitomised Shrewsbury under Hurst, running into the ground and standing up to everything the visitors had to offer.

For all of their huff and puff, the Gas could not create anything clear-cut and Salop let out a mighty sigh of relief with 18 minutes to go.

Hurst himself got a little over-excited as he attempted to move a Rory Gaffney free-kick, nipping it away from the striker on the touchline before an exchange of words.

Referee Sebastian Stockbridge marched over to the dugout and showed the Town chief his marching orders.

It didn't matter.

More impressive stuff from Ebanks-Blake, who later received a standing ovation when subbed off, fed Brown whose cross cannoned off Lockyer's arm for a clear spot-kick.

Ian Black stepped up, having missed one earlier in the season at the same end against Peterborough, and smashed it down the middle giving Puddy no chance.

Late introductions of Shaun Whalley and Joe Riley provided more joy on the duo's return from injury. While Ebanks-Blake will have given Hurst some food for thought.

Relief lifted from the Meadow and supporters could now relax and continue their cheerful enjoyment as the Paul Hurst scheme continued to roll on.

Key moments

1 - Skipper Tom Lockyer connects to Charlie Colkett's and sends a powerful header that flicked off the crossbar after just 40 seconds.

2 - Moments later Ian Black sells Dom Smith short and Rory Gaffney nips in but can only send a low effort wide.

4 - Town click into gear as Louis Dodds sends a cross flashing across wide before Jim O'Brien shoots high and wide.

16 - SALOP GOAL - Mat Sadler's left-sided delivery is deflected by Lockyer and is rolling behind but misjudged by keeper Will Puddy, who palms it straight out to Louis Dodds, with the midfielder tapping home his third in three games and seventh of the season.

18 - Town almost have a second. Fantastic cross from Black met by Junior Brown whose powerful header is well kept out by Puddy.

24 - Black's scorching volley from 30 yards dips and almost finds Bristol Rovers' top corner, inches wide.

28 - Jayson Leutwiler is sharp off his goal line to reach a high ball ahead of Gas dangerman Matty Taylor.

37 - Inches away. Yet another bursting run from Brown leads to the left-sided man fizzing a low across that was just a stud's width from Sylvan Ebanks-Blake.

42 - This time Ebanks-Blake does connect with a Sadler cross but, under pressure, he can only control and prod wide on the stretch.

60 - The first dramatic action of note in the second period was Paul Hurst's dismissal. The Town manager was sent 'back' to the stands - where he sits in the first-half - after interfering with a Rovers free-kick on the touchline.

73 - TOWN GOAL - 2-0 and it's Ian Black from the spot. Hosts awarded a clear-as-day spot-kick as Brown's cross cannoned off Lockyer's arm. Black stepped up and smashed the corner down the middle for his third of the season.

80 - It was great to see Shaun Whalley return from injury.

89 - Rovers day was summed up by sub Billy Bodin, who somehow blasted over when he should score.

Teams

Shrewsbury Town (4-4-2):

Leutwiler, Grimmer, Smith, Lancashire, Sadler; Ogogo ©, Black, O'Brien (Whalley, 80), Brown; Dodds (Riley, 95), Ebanks-Blake (Waring, 78)

Subs not used: Halstead (gk), Jones, Barnett, Sears

Bristol Rovers (4-4-2 diamond):

Puddy, Clarke, Lockyer ©, Hartley, Brown; Clarke, Sinclair (Bodin, 66), Boateng (Harrison, 45), Colkett (Lines, 45); Taylor, Gaffney

Subs not used: Roos (gk), Mansell, Easter, James

Attendance: 6,139 (1,509 from Bristol Rovers)

Referee: Sebastian Stockbridge

Position in the table

21st (21 points from 22 games)