SHREWSSHOCK THE COD ARMY

Thomas winner puts them back on top

EVERY time Shrewsbury suffer a setback, they seem to bounce back – and their hard-fought victory at Fleetwood brought them an unexpected bonus.

The Shrews lost 2-1 at home to fast-improving Plymouth last weekend but got straight back in the saddle by edging out Fleetwood by the same score on Tuesday night.

Shaun Whalley gave Paul Hurst’s men the lead on the stroke of half-time, but Paddy Madden levelled for the Cod Army just before the hour mark.

It looked as though Shrewsbury would have to settle for a share of the spoils, but Sheffield United loanee Nathan Thomas poked home an 82nd-minute winner after a flowing team move.

“Overall, it was a much better performance,” said Hurst. “We had a few good spells in the game and controlled a lot of the possession. I’m delighted by the response and to get back to winning ways.”

The extra surprise for the Shrews was that the win took them back to the League One summit.

That came after Wigan slipped to a shock 2-0 home defeat against lowly Blackpool.

Armand Gnanduillet celebrated his 26th birthday in style by opening the scoring after just three minutes and Kelvin Mellor wrapped up the points with the second on 37 minutes.

Wigan slipped to second, ahead of third-placed Blackburn on goal difference. Rovers bagged a fine 2-1 victory at Portsmouth, courtesy of an Adam Armstrong double.

The 21-year-old Newcastle loanee netted the winner three minutes from time after Conor Chaplin had cancelled out his first strike.

Target

Red-hot Rotherham leapfrogged Scunthorpe into fourth place with a comfortable 3-1 win over Oxford United.

Anthony Forde, Richie Towell and Michael Smith were on target as the Millers made it five league wins on the spin. James Henry netted for the U’s.

Scunthorpe picked up a valuable point at Peterborough, twice coming from behind in the process. Marcus Maddison and Junior Morias scored for Posh, with Ivan Toney and Ryan Yates replying for the Iron. Bradford held on to sixth place – the final play-off spot – after earning a point in manager Simon Grayson’s first game in charge. It looked as though hosts

Charlton would go above them in the table with Josh Magennis’ first-half header, but sub Tyrell Robinson struck with ten minutes left to ensure it was honours even.

It was a decent start for Grayson, who had sent on Robinson just four minutes earlier.

Plymouth continued their startling surge up the table with a 4-2 home win over AFC

Wimbledon. The win lifted the Pilgrims to eighth place.

Other results: Bristol Rovers 3 Rochdale 2; Bury 0 Southend 0; Northampton 1 Gillingham 2; Oldham 1 MK Dons 0; Walsall 4 Doncaster 2.