Gareth Ainsworth delighted with Shrewsbury fightback

Salop looked like they would fall to their fourth successive League One defeat with just over 20 minutes of the match remaining.

And given Town's season and the way things have gone for the Shropshire side - it would have been easy for them to buckle and lose three or four as they have in previous weeks.

But they showed immense character to come back and snatch a point in the 2-2 draw, and Ainsworth was delighted by the way his side stuck at it.

"Absolutely brilliant," he said. "We came here with a will to win, a belief we could win.

"We have conceded another poor couple of goals, and that really annoys me because the boys did more than enough to win this game.

"We worked really hard for our goals, the changes had great impact, but you know what, that's why I'm here.

"It is those moments that is why I've come here, and that's because of the spirit, and I know we can build on that.

"We've had a 2-2 away at Wigan, who beat Bolton last week 2-0, this is no easy place to come - they have got some quality.

"But again, we've got some fundamentals wrong. We're getting there, we're slowly getting there.

"Fans were fantastic today, thank you so much. It's a tough last shopping day before Christmas, and it has been windy and rainy.

"Thank you so much because you never stop beating that drum, you never stop singing, and you've played a part in us getting back in this game, believe me, because you've inspired me, never mind the players."

Thelo Aasgaard and Dale Taylor scored to give Wigan a commanding two-goal advantage.

Before Gareth Ainsworth introduced Tom Bloxham, who helped flip the game on its head.

He created both of Town's goals with his crosses. His first forced Will Aimson to turn the ball into his own net.

And his second caused Wigan goalkeeper Sam Tickle to spill the ball, and George Lloyd was on hand to smash it in beyond the Latics keeper.

Town have a huge couple of weeks of football coming up over the festive period. They play Lincoln on Boxing Day before welcoming Northampton just a few days later.

And Ainsworth wants this result to be the start of something.

"We need to build on this now," he said. "I want to go on an unbeaten run.

"I put it out there to the boys. I will put it out there to the fans - I want to stay unbeaten. I think we've got winnable games.

"Just really proud of the boys today, really, really proud of the boys. Like I say, we have taken small steps forward. I want to get this place excited.

"If we can do that at home, wow, we can be devastating."

The result does not move Shrewsbury off the bottom of the League One table - they are still 24th - but they are now on the same points as Burton Albion.

It is the momentum Shrewsbury might get from this result that could help them turn their form around.

Meanwhile, the Town boss was asked post-match about the absence of keeper Toby Savin.

"Toby's had it tough because we haven't defended very well," he said. "I think there's gaps. It's not all about the keeper, no chance. There's gaps, there's gaps ahead of him."