Shrewsbury 0 Fleetwood 2: Super strike by Burns and back-to-back wins for Cod Army

Burns scored from range on the stroke of half-time, then Kyle Vassell notched his second goal of the season in a comfortable win at the Montgomery Waters Meadow.

Simon Grayson chose to stick with the same side that picked up the club’s first away win since December at Lincoln City on Tuesday night, his second win since taking over from Joey Barton at the end of January

It was an uneventful opening to the clash, with a deflected effort from Shrewsbury’s Josh Vela the closest either side came to a goal in the first 10 minutes.

It was evident that both sets of players wanted to get the ball down and play, though in the early stages defences were on top and chances were few and far between.

Town’s Danny Andrew unleashed a rasping strike from distance on the half-hour mark, drawing the first save of the game from Shrewsbury’s Matija Sarkic.

Callum Connolly called the home keeper into action again moments later, before the home side’s front line created their first chance as Shaun Whalley’s curling shot warmed the palms of Town’s Alex Cairns.

Then just as the game looked to be heading into the break with the score all square, Burns produced a piece of individual brilliance to put the Cod Army in front right on the stroke of half-time.

The wing-back picked up a stray pass in his own half and drifted past two Shrews players before beating Sarkic with a dipping effort from 25 yards.

Connolly went close to doubling Town’s lead just minutes into the second half, but he couldn’t connect with a dangerous right-wing cross from Burns.

Shrewsbury's in-form playmaker Harry Chapman drew a save from Cairns midway through the half, but the Blackburn loanee had little joy against a resolute Fleetwood back line.

Chances were again at a premium but when Town were presented with a big opportunity 20 minutes from time, they took it.

They played through the Salop midfield, with Ged Garner’s neat pass finding Vassell and he kept his composure to slot the ball under Sarkic and put the game to bed.

The home side introduced strikers Rekeil Pyke and Daniel Udoh in a bid to get back in the game, but it was Grayson’s men who were looking the more likely to increase their lead in the closing stages.

Shrewsbury did pump a few long balls into the box but the Cod Army defence stood firm and saw the game out.

The result gives Grayson’s men momentum and lifts them to 15th in the table.

Shrewsbury: Sarkic, Pennington (Walker 68), Ebanks-Landell, Williams, Daniels (Goss 45), Vela, Davis (Edwards 76), Ogbeta, Chapman (Udoh 76), Main (Pyke 75), Whalley; Subs not used: Burgoyne, Sears.

Fleetwood: Cairns, Hill, Connolly, Andrew, Burns (Holgate 90), Camps, Rossiter, Batty (Finley 88), Rydel (Donacien 78), Vassell (Madden 78), Garner (Saunders 78); Subs not used: Coleman, Duffy.

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