Dropping a shot into the path of Luciano Becchio and conceding 4 goals in your first competitive game is not the best of ways to make a first impression at your new club.

Performances like that are certainly hard to forget however a good player always learns from their mistakes and Chris Weale has been the revelation of the season so far for Shrewsbury Town. His performance against Walsall on Sunday was his crowning moment of the season so far. Who say’s first impressions are that important?

Coming into the Walsall game Shrewsbury Town had failed to score a goal in their last three competitive league games and had just been knocked out of the Johnstone Paint Trophy to League one competitors Crewe on home soil. Things were not looking good for Graham Turner’s men.

The Saddlers started as they meant to go on, forcing Weale into two fine saves in the opening fifteen minutes and taking complete control of the game, Their continued pressure along with some leaky defending meant a goal was almost certainly on the cards, but not if Chris Weale had anything to do with it. The keeper constantly denying the Walsall front men and causing frustration amongst the travelling fans.

Then on 25 minutes Paul Parry hit the ball into an empty Walsall net following a strike from Asa Hall which came back off the bar. The goal coming against the run of play inspired Walsall and made them continue their onslaught on the Shrewsbury goal however Sunday was to be Chris Weale’s day and despite their best efforts the game ended 1-0 and Shrewsbury were lifted out of the relegation zone after only 24 hours of being in there.

Weale’s performance was one of the very few positives to be taken from Sunday’s game however as Shrewsbury’s Jekyl and Hyde performances appear to be continuing. Three points is always a positive, especially in a local derby but things need to start improving as we can not continue to rely on Chris Weale to save the day for us.

Shrewsbury travel to Fratton Park to take on an inform Portsmouth side this Saturday. Graham Turner's men have yet to pick up a win away from home so far this campaign and Saturday is going to be a very tough game if they want to change this. Former Shrewsbury striker Luke Rodgers will be out to break his old team mates hearts and will certainly be a big problem for our defence.

On the plus side Darren Jones, Terry Gornell and Sam Winnall all look to be fit for Saturdays encounter and this should at least give Turner some options that we didn't have last Sunday.

You can follow me on Twitter @LiamHoofe

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