Gavin Cowan feeling ‘on top of the world’ after Shrewsbury guarantee survival

Gavin Cowan felt “on top of the world” after Shrewsbury’s 1-0 win over Oldham guaranteed their survival.

Will Boyle gave the Shrews a 30th-minute lead after heading home from Taylor Perry’s cross.

Max Cox made a fine save to keep out Kane Drummond, before Joe Garner and Fabio Jalo came inches away from bagging an equaliser.

It means Town are now safe for another season after racking up the points since Cowan took charge.

“I am feeling on top of the world,” said Cowan. “The players, fans and staff showed what it means to be part of Shrewsbury Town FC.

“Moving forward we have to make sure that we now change the rhetoric that has been within the club. It is going to be a big job for me in the summer.

“The mentality today was all about being connected with the club. I feel very proud of the job we have done since coming in.

“We had 22 points when we came in. We have accumulated 25 points in 16 games since then. It has been a brilliant achievement from the players and staff and I feel very proud to be a part of it.

“The first 20 minutes we had to battle today, but after that we were excellent. We were brave and trusted our process. When we do it we get success.

“I asked the players to play for the badge today, as a minimum you have to run around for the badge. Full credit to the players, they gave it everything.”

Oldham head coach Micky Mellon was left counting the cost of a lack of quality.

“We didn’t apply ourselves to what the game was about, but you can never question their effort,” said Mellon.

“They had a good go but in terms of what the game needed, we were found wanting. We needed to show a bit more quality coming out of the knockdowns, that’s probably what was missing.

“We weren’t first enough, certainty in their box. The first goal was poor and out of nothing, we are disappointed with that.

“We will take the defeat and look over it and go again on Tuesday. We know it will be a similar type of game up at Barrow.

“We are still digesting the game and what we need to do better as a team. Tuesday will be another big game and we need to go up there and show the quality that is going to be needed at a tough place to go.

“I would back our players to have a good response and go up there and try and get the win we are looking for.”