WANDERERS took another significant step towards promotion with a hard-fought win at Shrewsbury Town.
Phil Parkinson’s men churned out a fourth consecutive away win – their best run on the road since 2001 – with goals from Mark Beevers and Adam Le Fondre.
The Whites’ joy was tempered, however, with the fact three of their players were forced off injured.
Ben Alnwick (knee ligaments) and Andy Taylor (calf) were both described as “more serious” injuries after the game by Parkinson, but Gary Madine also hobbled off in the first half with a groin problem.
“It was a big win for us considering the disruption we had with Gary, Ben and Andy going off,” he said after the game. “I keep going back to that quote from Gary Neville about Chelsea winning the league because they can win all sorts of games.
“I told the boys that is what we needed to do today. I couldn’t see it being a pretty game.
“Shrewsbury went man for man and made it difficult for us, so credit to them, but you just have to stay in those games and grind it out, so that’s what we have done.”
After a tight first half the Whites took the lead on 51 minutes when Shrews keeper Josh Leutwiler got caught in no man’s land from Filipe Morais’ long throw and Beevers’ flick coasted into an empty net.
Fifteen minutes later and Morais created a second, racing past Matt Sadler and cutting a dangerous ball back for Le Fondre to stroke home at the far post.
Wanderers are now six points clear of third-placed Fleetwood, who drew 0-0 at Bury, and just four points off leaders Sheffield United, who could only draw at Oldham Athletic.
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