Martin Wild speaks to Kelvin Langmead after Town's 2-0 win over Morecambe

Kelvin Langmead bore the look of a relieved man after Town's comfortable 2-0 win against Sammy McIlroy's Morecambe side.

Salop kept their first clean sheet in six games, but more importantly stopped a losing sequence which had stretched to four games since the last success which came on Boxing Day at home to Stockport.

"It was a hugely better performance today," said the 22 year-old. "We've all been really disappointed with our recent performances and the inconsistency in our form. But when we play like we did today it just shows you how good we can be. We've got to work hard to make sure we keep doing that week in, week out. It's no use winning three and then losing four. We need to build on this and I'm sure we'll keep working hard to make that happen."

The Shrews were afforded the luxury of a two goal lead at half time, helped on their way by a debut goal inside four minutes from new loan signing Asa Hall, who signed from Birmingham City on Tuesday. I asked if it was one of Langmead's easier afternoons of the season.

"There's no easy games believe me but I know exactly what you're saying," he said. "We've worked hard this week on being compact and making sure we don't concede any goals 'cos lately we've done that and it's been disappointing especially conceding from free-kicks and set pieces. It's very pleasing to get that clean sheet."

Gary Peters made five changes to the team that lined up at Edgar Street last Sunday and I wondered whether he had been brave, bold, stupid or a touch of all three. Whatever the mix it allowed the side to express itself more freely and set a high tempo from the first whistle.

"Before the game the gaffer had asked us to go and play with a bit of freedom. Losing four in a row meant that we had to change something and we just went out and played and I think the lads did really well today.

"I expected more from them (Morecambe) to be honest. They beat Peterborough at home recently and are higher in the league than us so I thought it would be a bigger test."

And what did the Town centre-back make of the recent criticism levelled at the team? Justified or not?

"Earlier in the season when the stadium was full the lads were picking up a bit of credit but we were playing well and so you're happy to take the plaudits. It works vice-versa, so when you're not doing it you have to accept the negative things as well."

Hall's debut goal was followed by Guy Madjo's first for Town and Langmead recognised the contributions made by Shrewsbury's recent additions to the first team pool.

"The gaffer's shrewd. He brings in good players and OK, sometimes it doesn't always go well. But they're good players; it was nice to see Asa get a goal and then Guy's weighed in as well with another one. It was just nice to go in at half-time with a two goal lead because it hasn't happened very often this season. But with players coming into the club and others leaving, it sort of mixes things up a bit and certainly keeps you on your toes. No-one wants to get complacent and no-one will do. To keep your place in the team you have to work hard and perform out on the pitch or you'll be left out next week and everyone accepts that."

The three points were vital if only to restore some of the lost confidence that a losing streak brings, but as a defender Town's number eight recognised the importance of being tighter defensively.

"I think we kept five clean sheets in eight at one stage this season but again it's down to inconsistency isn't it? Things are looking solid and then you concede like six times in a row and it costs you. But we need to go on a little run again and start getting results at places like Grimsby and Bradford (Town's next two fixtures). We have to improve our away form definitely. We have to learn from going a goal up and then going on to get beat. We need to get better at closing games out and maybe going on to get the crucial next goal and that's something we'll have to work hard on to do."

Kelvin is now the longest serving member of the Gary Peters era so what did it feel like to be a veteran?

"Ha. Ha. Very funny. Yeah, I know it's strange isn't it? I mean there must have been 40, 50, 60 different players brought in since I got here. I'm pleased to still be here. I know things haven't gone brilliantly this season but there's still so much to look forward to at this football club."

Town hardly turned the form book upside down with this, their eighth home win of the season, but with Wrexham's shock win against league leaders MK Dons, Langmead emphasised the fact that any team is capable of beating anyone in League Two.

"It just goes to show you how crazy this league is," he said. "But we mustn't get caught up in what's happening around us. We have to make sure that we keep doing the right things and it's still possible to reach the play-offs if we can improve on our consistency."

With only two clean sheets on their travels in the whole of the campaign so far (at Lincoln and Wrexham) now would be a fine time to address that statistic and start a mini-revival to help restore some of the supporters' lost faith. One would suspect that it won't be necessary to make five changes ahead of the trip to Blundell Park next weekend.