Shrewsbury Town 0 Bolton 2 - Report and pictures

Analysis

Second-half goals from Mark Beevers and Adam Le Fondre claimed the points, after Town had more than matched their lofty visitors in the first period.

Results elsewhere didn't go totally against Town, but Town fans will be concerned as points have dried up for Hurst's side.

Bolton fans were left chanting "the Whites are going up" as they won their fifth straight game, while Salop were desperately searching for a glimmer of hope, now just one point clear of safety with seven to play.

Hurst rang out the changes from the disappointing reversal at Port Vale, four in total, most notable of all the inclusion of skipper Adam El-Abd - who was central of a back three - the first time the boss has opted for the system during his tenure.

Elsewhere there were starts for Ryan Yates in the centre of midfielder, as well as Freddie Ladapo in attack and Louis Dodds fitted in central midfield, just behind the front two.

Bryn Morris, Shaun Whalley, Alex Rodman and Stefan Payne dropped out.

Bolton went into the Greenhous Meadow clash having score four goals in each of their previous three away games - a run Shrews were well wary of.

The scene was set wonderfully on an afternoon baked in sunshine. The club's new FanZone, located behind the Salop Leisure Stand, had gone down well and the sell-out away crowd were positively bubbling. A crowd of 7,532 took in the entertainment. A season-high by more than 1,100.

Bolton earned four corners inside 12 minutes, their giant outfit had Town worrying with a couple of exquisite Filipe Morais deliveries, defenders David Wheater and Mark Beevers volleyed and headed over.

But as Jayson Leutwiler claimed the fourth, the supporters inside Greenhous Meadow grew the more confident.

While Darren Pratley had a go from 30 yards, Town - with their new shape settling in nicely - weren't happy to just sit and soak up pressure.

And it was Town that went closest yet 15 minutes in. Link-up on the left between Junior Brown and Tyler Roberts picked out Dodds on the edge of Bolton's box and the schemer lifted a delicate left-footed dink destined for the far corner only kept out by Ben Alnwick's sprawling grasp.

Roberts was causing trouble, he turned on a sixpence in the visitors' box and sent in a delicious delivery that just evaded Yates and Brown.

Bolton didn't appear to be interested in playing their way around the hosts, there was precious little football attempted by the hosts, who were more than happy to knock balls up to Gary Medine.

That was scuppered on half hour, as the big front man limped off for the more diminutive Chris Long - but the Trotters' 'Plan A' would not change.

A game of football threatened to break out as times as Shrews ventured forward, the relegation-threatened Salop trying to work shapes through Dodds and Roberts, while Ladapo was a willing runner.

But the Trotters were content with head tennis, Phil Parkinson's visitors were happy to rely on flinging the ball into the box for Wheater and Beevers.

Leutwiler, capped for a second time by Canada in the week, got away with one on the cusp of half-time. He dropped a Morais delivery, Wheater looked to hooked it over the stranded keeper, but El-Abd was on-hand to keep Town's clean sheet intact. Darren Pratley then blasted over.

For all of their first-half credit, an early lapse in concentration in the second period undid them.

Taylor lined up a long throw on the right side and it arrived towards the near post, where Beevers snuck in between Nsiala and Leutwiler before the faintest touch flicked his header into the far corner.

Greenhous Meadow felt deflated.

Deflated but not beaten.

Town's mantra hadn't changed and they remained on the front foot. Ladapo and the Salop Leisure Stand were screaming for a penalty as the ball struck Dorian Dervite's arm in the box.

Ladapo also had a go from an impossible angle as Alnwick was handed a reminder.

Roberts sent another warning note on the hour mark as his 20 yard effort was low and into the keeper's midriff.

With 25 minutes to play the hosts' task became that much harder. Poor control, not helped by the bounce of the ball, saw Morais evade El-Abd - with the defence claiming it caught the Portuguese's arm.

The ex-Chelsea youth player squared expertly and while it went beyond Long, Le Fondre was on hand at the back post to lift a fine finish into the roof of the net.

It was Morais' 11th assist of 2017.

As Morais, Le Fondre and co kept their composure at one end, West Brom loanee Roberts - who had caught the eye with his silky work - lost his.

Sub Shaun Whalley and Dodds worked space for Roberts, unmarked just inside the area, but he wastefully sent a skewed effort into the stands as Town spurned their clearest opening.

The only other surprise was that Gary Deegan remained in the pitch, after a first-half added time caution, he cleared out Le Fondre near the touch line, a decision ignored by referee Stockbridge.

Key moments

7 - David Wheater sends a volley over after a corner was half-cleared by Town.

11 - Darren Pratley has a go from distance, his 30 yard strike is straight at Jayson Leutwiler.

12 - Big chance Town. Tyler Roberts picks out Town on the edge of the box, the No.10 tries to lift a delicate left-footed lob over Ben Alnwick who sprawls well to keep it out.

13 - Joe Riley has an opening from the rebound against his former side but it's straight at Alnwick.

24 - Roberts jinks inside the box into a bit of space before sending a delicate ball across the box just inches ahead of Ryan Yates with Brown on his heels at the back post.

45 - Jayson Leutwiler gets away with one, drops a cross, Wheater's looped strike cleared by Adam El-Abd before Pratley blazes over.

50 - Bolton goal. Taylor's long throw flicked goalwards by Beevers and beyond Leutwiler into the corner.

60 - Roberts has a go from distance, it's low and straight at Alnwick.

65 - Bolton goal. El-Abd makes a hash of a clearance. Morais pounces and squares, where Le Fondre is on hand at the back post to smash into the roof of the net.

75 - Roberts' composure evades him. Found inside the box in a yard of space he shoots first-time over the bar. Disgusted at himself for missing the target.

Teams

Shrewsbury Town (4-4-2):

Leutwiler; Riley, Nsiala, El-Abd (c), Sadler; Dodds, Deegan (Morris, 86), Yates (Whalley, 70), Brown; Roberts, Ladapo (Payne, 79)

Unused: Halstead, Grimmer, Leitch-Smith, Rodman.

Bolton (3-5-2):

Alnwick (Howard, 67); Dervite, Beevers, Wheater; Derik, Pratley (c), Morais, Vela, Taylor (Moxey, 60); Le Fondre, Medine (Long, 30)

Unused: Spearing, Karacan, Clayton, Henry

Goals:

Beevers 51, Le Fondre 66

Attendance:

7,552 (1,511 Bolton fans)

Referee:

Referee: Sebastian Stocksbridge

Position in the table

20th