A ten-man reserves side followed up the heavy defeat at Nottingham Forest with a 1-0 win at the New Meadow this afternoon.

Striker Vincent Pericard got the only goal of the game following fine approach work by Ritchie De Laet and Jon Parkin.

Parkin, a constant threat to the Shrews back line throughout the game, played a first-time pass through the defence for Pericard to cooly finish past Ryan Esson in the Shrewsbury goal.

Mark O'Connor fielded a strong line-up with both strikers having featured in Saturday's Coca-Cola Championship draw at Burnley.

There were also places in the line-up for Anthony Pulis, who is on the comeback trail following a thigh injury, Marlon Broomes and Russell Hoult.

And it was Hoult who pulled off a couple of decent saves, firstly denying Stuart Nicholson from close range before getting down well at his near post to snuff Ben Davies' free kick.

Pericard then went close to doubling the City lead but Esson saved well.

Hoult again kept the Potters in the game in the second period, saving another effort from Nicholson then expertly tipping Steve Leslie's curling strike round the post.

Substitute Marc Grocott was also unlucky with two second half chances after replacing Vincent Pericard as the Potters looked to extend their lead.

City actually played the final thirty minutes with ten men as Anthony Pulis left the field as a precaution for his thigh with Mark O'Connor having already used all three substitutes.

The victory came in the club's game in hand with the three points reducing the gap at the top of the table between City and Nottingham Forest to five points.

Walsall are the second string's next opponents a week on Wednesday, with the Saddlers' clash scheduled to take place at the Lyme Valley Stadium.

SHREWSBURY: Esson, Herd, Leslie, Hall, Kempson (c), Murdock (Coulston), Hunt, Ashton, Nicholson, Davies, Moss (Evans). Subs (Not Used): Hooman, Singh, Davey.

CITY (4-4-2): Hoult; De Laet, Broomes (c), Buxton, Hazley (Watson); J. Phillips, Pulis, Wedderburn; Parkin (Thorley), Pericard (Grocott). Sub (Not Used): St. Louis-Hamilton.