Gavin Cowan delighted as Shrewsbury beat Accrington

Gavin Cowan was delighted as Shrewsbury made it four successive wins with a 2-0 victory over Accrington.

The Shrews had only won one away league game all season – at Barnet in September – but they made it two at the Wham Stadium to move further away from the relegation zone.

Town enjoyed a dream start when, after 30 seconds, Iwan Morgan weaved his way to the edge of the area and fired into the net.

Shrewsbury scored a second on 48 minutes when Mal Benning’s free-kick found Luca Hoole who headed home.

Shrewsbury boss Cowan, who has been in charge for six games, said: “It was a big win, it was a massive effort from the players. I thought they were incredible.

“From the mentality perspective, having won three games sometimes there is a tendency to have a day off but there was none of that going on.

“In open play we were excellent and our decision-making was massive. The players really buy into what we are trying to do, they are focused and their attitude and application was through the roof.

“I know it sounds boring, but it’s 13 games to go and the lads in the changing room are ecstatic but focused.

“It was brilliant to see the fans be rewarded and it was a privilege to be part of the scenes at the end. God willing it can continue.”

Stanley were down to the bare bones with suspensions and injuries and could only name five substitutes.

They had won four out of the last five games but manager John Doolan admitted this was a step too far.

He said: “That’s the worst we have played for a while but, under the circumstances, I am proud they had a go.

“But you can’t give a team a goal in the first minute, it’s backs-to-the-wall after that, and then concede two minutes after the break.

“We didn’t take our chances. Football is simple – you have to be able to do your job. Our decision-making was poor and our execution was poor at times, we competed but were limited in terms of what we could do.

“You can’t take anything away from them. They had a game plan, they came to do a job and they did it.

“It’s difficult, the lads tried their best but it wasn’t good enough.”