Analysis: Shrewsbury show they are every bit top two contenders

Another last-gasp victory, the kind of which Paul Hurst’s men have produced on countless occasions this season, secured a 2-1 victory at Bristol Rovers to add yet another chapter to this remarkable story.

Town strengthened their position in the League One promotion race and climbed back into second. Blackburn – touted as the side that will sweep aside ‘little old’ Shrewsbury and disappear into the distance – were pegged back again.

This time it was an 89th-minute winner as Hurst’s tireless side pulled another three points out of the bag and created yet more memories for the travelling Salopians, all 700 of them in Bristol.

This squad is built with the strongest stuff. After edging themselves ahead in a largely uneventful afternoon on a horrible pitch, they were immediately pegged back through an unfortunate deflection.

Did that knock them off stride? Hardly. It would have been easy to drop their heads or for the Gas, backed by a raucous crowd, to be in the ascendency.

The hosts had their moments but Shrews looked the sharper. Moreover, they looked the side with more belief. Been there, done that.

Alex Rodman summed up the mentality. The one name to fall out of the starting line-up, he came on and made the difference. He proved his point. A sensational burst into the box after sliding to win a tackle, dancing delightfully beyond two challenges to the byline and a ball across goal that Toto Nsiala could hardly miss.

Hurst’s men have rallied late on so often this season that it is almost expected now. They believe they can do it and that belief translates into an extra push. Mentally this squad have it spot-on.

It has all come from the top. From Hurst and his staff down. But now, as new players arrive at Montgomery Waters Meadow, it is becoming part of the club. A strong mental attitude is required to belong in this Town squad – to go and then go again.

Nathan Thomas was another big plus point. The Sheffield United loanee was picked from the off and looked direct, skilful and dangerous, everything fans hoped for.

Ironically, with talk in some quarters after last week’s transfer deadline about the lack of another striker in at the Meadow, it was two defenders who found the net for Shrews.

Omar Beckles opened his account for the club after the hour and Nsiala did the damage at the death. It took the big defender a while after the full-time whistle to be officially credited with the goal.

He ghosted in at the back post and headed Rodman’s cross-shot over the line. Pandemonium ensued in the away end.

Incredibly, Town’s entire back four have scored in their previous three league games. Goals are being shared around the entire squad.

The late shows keep on coming. This victory adds to games at Doncaster, Rotherham, MK Dons and Coventry this season. The Meadow also saw the spoils snatched at the death against Northampton and Fleetwood.

Blackburn, after sacrificing home points to the Cobblers last week, lost at Plymouth and are beginning to stutter. Their incredible 18-game unbeaten run is over and now they have taken one point from six available. Shrewsbury have taken the lot.

Hurst’s men deserve credit for their immense response to defeat at Ewood Park a few weeks ago.

Most neutrals – and even some Shrews fans, no doubt – thought that was the end of Town pushing for a top two spot. They were wrong.

This season does not rest solely on the play-offs. Wigan and Blackburn are not untouchable. Town, with seven points and games in hand between them and fourth, are right in the mix.

It felt like a big win. It was celebrated like one.