Paul Hurst: Shrewsbury Town are taking strides forward

Record-equalling Salop won the opening three games of a league season for just the third time in the club's post- war history after downing Rochdale 3-2.

Hurst is without doubt that he has developed the squad he inherited from Micky Mellon 10 months ago as Town hope to avoid a third consecutive League One relegation scrap.

"I said to the players that I think they're getting a lot of plaudits, there's a lot of optimism around, which is great," said Hurst.

"At the same time it can very quickly get knocked out of you. The challenge was could they come up with another performance? And I think we did for large parts.

"Rochdale certainly had their moments, as I'd expect with their style of play, but I thought we more than held our own and looked a good team ourselves.

"There's a few things in my mind, looking at us as a squad, there's no doubt whatsoever that we're taking strides in the right direction.

"Where that ends up being or what season we have, there's a hell of a long way to go."

After Dale became resurgent Shrewsbury's latest victims, with second time around debutant Stefan Payne notching the winner from the bench, Hurst commented on the strength of the squad and how it has evolved this summer.

The boss added: "I said it when Stef signed in terms of strengthening the squad, certainly the group of players we've got is a long way ahead of what we finished with last season.

"That can only be good for me and hopefully the fans as well.

"No I couldn't see it coming (the start). You don't know how anyone else is going to be. What I would say is between the staff, the hard work gone in terms of preparation, and the players' application to it, it all bodes well.

"It might be that little bit of luck, against Northampton we did enough to win it but we didn't look like we were going to. If that goes wide or is saved we might be talking something totally different."