Cowan's approach key to staying up - Boyle

Shrewsbury Town match winner Will Boyle said securing the club's place in League Two for next season was a "brilliant" achievement, given where they were when head coach Gavin Cowan was appointed. Salop's 1-0 win over Oldham on Saturday, courtesy of Boyle's 30th-minute header, was enough to guarantee their survival in the EFL and avoid a second successive relegation. When Cowan replaced Michael Appleton on 30 January, Town were two points above the relegation zone and in a battle to avoid dropping into non-league for the first time in 23 years.

But former Brackley boss, and Salop defender Cowan, inspired a run of 19 points out of his first 27 in charge pulling Town 13 points clear of trouble and, despite a wobble of five defeats in six, victory over the Latics secured their safety. "Without putting a dampener on it I think overall it's been a frustrating and disappointing season but to get the job done now after the position we were in when the gaffer came in, to have three games to spare, is brilliant," Salop skipper Boyle told BBC Radio Shropshire. "We've got to commend him [Cowan] for the job he's done.

He's come in, got us organised and we've managed to get the points on the board where we're in a very precarious position at that point. So, yeah, it's a relief. " Cowan 'on top of the world' as Shrews clinch safety No-one expected tough season, says Salop's Marquis 'We're not safe yet' - Shrewsbury skipper Boyle Boyle, a summer signing from Wrexham, said it is vital the squad stay "professional" over the final three games of the season and "finish the season off strong".

"Everyone says they don't look at the table, but I'm pretty sure 95% of people do," he said. "We know what position we were in in January. And, at that stage, it's tough.