Late winner for Shrewsbury

Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro fired a late winner as Shrewsbury beat fellow high-flyers Burton 1-0 at New Meadow.

The victory made it 12 victories from 14 home games in all competitions for the home team, while it was a first defeat for Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink as manager of Burton. Shrewsbury had the better of a tight first half but chances were in short supply. Josh Passley, making his debut on loan from Fulham, teed up an early opportunity for James Collins but the striker was unable to hit the target. Collins then sent a header goalwards from Bobby Grant's searching cross but Burton keeper Jon McLaughlin was able to save at the foot of his near post. Collins, Shrewsbury's top scorer, continued to look dangerous and McLaughlin punched away his stinging drive. Burton found chances hard to come by although home keeper Jayson Leutwiler needed to be alert to hold on to a deflected shot from Alex MacDonald under his bar. Grant came close to a spectacular breakthough for Shrewsbury early in the second half but his well struck 25 yard shot was tipped over by the agile McLaughlin. Both defences continued to stand firm but the deadlock was finally broken in the 83rd minute when Collins dispossessed his former Shrewsbury team mate Shane Cansdell-Sherriff and pulled the back for Frenchman Akpa Akpro to rifle in a rising shot from eight yards.