Town: Chris Neal, Dean Holden, Graham Coughlan (c), Craig Disley, Kelvin Langmead, Dave Hibbert (Simpson, 57), Jake Robinson (Riza, 82), Nathan Elder (Gray, 89), Paul Murray, Joss Labadie, Kevin McIntyre

Subs: Terry Dunfield, Omer Riza, Harry Hooman, Andre Gray, Jake Simpson, Andreas Arestidou, Shane Cansdell-Sherriff

Goals: Robinson 10, Hibbert 49, Labadie 82

Burton Albion: Shane Redmond, Paul Bortien, John McGrath, Richard Walker, Robin Shroot (Pearson, 57), Ryan Austin, Russell Penn, Jimmy Phillips (Stride, 80), Jacques Maghoma, Guy Branston (c), Marc Edworthy

Subs: Kevin Poole, Michael Simpson, Tony James, Darren Stride, Andy Corbett, Greg Pearson, James Knowles

Goal: Pearson 62

Attendance: 6,438 (1,043 away)

Referee: K K Wright
Assistant Referee (yellow): S A Oldham
Assistant Referee (plain): D R Street
Fourth Official: D J Roberts

Martin Wild reports from the Prostar Stadium

There are a number of new faces in the Town starting line-up for the season's opener, but one that is missing is Kris Bright. Town haven't received international clearance from the Greek FA in time for his inclusion. This means some good news for Dave Hibbert who is back from injury and back in the starting line-up. Burton - who become the 131^st team to compete in the football league - have no fewer than nine debutants in their starting line-up.

There was an emotional start to proceedings with a minute's applause held for the late, great Sir Bobby Robson, who sadly passed away last week. It was a fitting tribute, and one which was being replicated at every ground in the country.

Town's first chance came from a free-kick. Joss Labadie's long range attempt didn't exactly come from the training manual, but the ball almost ran kindly for another new boy. Jake Robinson was only a whisker away from applying the finishing touch, but his studs weren't quite long enough and the visitors escaped.

He didn't have to wait too long before he was celebrating though. Dean Holden threaded through a perfectly weighted ball for Robinson to drill home from a tight angle. Shane Redmond in the Brewers goal might have done a little better, but the home side held the advantage with just under ten minutes on the watch.

There was a brief scare when Holden went down after winning a header just in front of the dug-outs, but despite Paul Simpson's reservations that the right side may need strengthening, there was no requirement for a change with the full-back able to recover.

Many of the players were struggling to keep their footing on the lush surface which was cutting up quite badly, and an uncharacteristic slip by Kelvin Langmead almost opened the door for former Town man Richard Walker. Chris Neal was alive to the danger and managed to get a glove on the ball to deny the striker on his return to the Prostar.

It was an entertaining first half-hour which was keeping the spectators on the edge of their seats. Some neat work by Jimmy Phillips almost had the thousand plus Albion fans up on their feet, with some clever play on the edge of the Town box. But having made the opening with a neat flick over a Shrews defender, his shot was rising and went comfortably over.

The first save of any note denied Salop a second after 33 minutes. Holden again turned provider and Hibbert's towering header at the far post stretched Redmond to his full capacity. Only the very ends of his fingertips made contact with the ball, but that was enough to alter its headed destination.

Town's three-pronged attack of Robinson, Hibbert and Elder were showing encouraging signs in this Holt-free era, that they were able to cause more than a few scares amongst visiting defenders. A quick glance at the score from Holty's new place of work, showed the Canaries four goals in arrears at home to Colchester!

Burton had their best chance five minutes before the interval. Jacques Maghoma found himself in a lot of room down the right and almost picked out Robin Shroot. Once more, Neal got just enough on the ball to take it off Shroot's toe, but the striker picked up the loose ball and fed Phillips on the edge of the area. The number 17 was closer with this effort but not close enough for the league newcomers.

The additional two minutes of play saw the Staffordshire outfit continue to probe menacingly in Town's half of the field, and a free-kick award in the last seconds of those minutes saw Neal comfortably hold on to Maghoma's shot.

Half Time: Town 1 Burton Alb 0

No changes in personnel at the break and Town were attacking the South Stand for the second 45.

Burton were the first to show and when Russell Penn jinked across the 18 yard line, his neat lay-off caught Maghoma off guard and the ball rolled harmlessly out of play.

Almost immediately, Shrewsbury extended their lead. Hibbert forced a corner and when Robinson fed Kevin McIntyre, his exquisite cross was powered home by Hibbert who had his first goal since scoring here in the rout of Gillingham last September.

It was the worst possible start for Paul Peschisolido's side, who had made a decent fist of things in their inaugural appearance at this level.

Shrews of course, had started the previous two campaigns with resounding 4-0 victories, so it was hardly time to get too carried away. That said, there were plenty of things to admire about this new look side that Simmo has assembled during the summer months.

Both sides made their first changes shortly after the second goal, with Jake Simpson taking the place of Hibbo who came off to a resounding ovation from three sides of the ground. It was richly deserved too. He looked sharp and fit and gives Simpson (Paul, not Jake) something to think about once the Greeks have finally got round to filling out their papers!

The substitution paid immediate dividends for the away side, when Greg Pearson drilled home a shot from the right hand side of the area to halve the deficit just past the hour. It was pretty much his first touch and came just after Elder had fractionally missed the target for Town.

The away fans were in full voice but Shrews fans responded in kind, and there was a good atmosphere amongst the near six and a half thousand crowd.

Pearson was looking a real threat down the right and midway through the half he forced Neal into an acrobatic tip-over as the Brewers looked to capitalise on the goal. They certainly had their tails up and the balance of play had shifted towards the Pirelli Stadium side - particularly in the last ten minutes. Walker did have the ball in the net but the linesman's flag soon had the travelling fans enthusiasm dampened.

There was a flashpoint on 73 minutes. Labadie's corner was contested by the captains - Coughlan and Branston. Branston could have been in a right pickle having led with an arm which poleaxed the Irishman at the edge of the area. Incredibly, referee Mr. Wright got it all wrong; missing the incident and allowing play to go on! The home fans roared their disapproval and questioned his ability to officiate - backed with a cacophony of boos and catcalls from the stands.

John McGrath's free-kick eluded all his team mates when it was begging for someone to apply the finish, and as the action swung to the other end, Branston finally got a yellow - the first of the match - for getting far too close and personal to Elder.

The punishment was even worse than the crime from a Burton standpoint. Labadie made it 3-1 when Redmond made a dog's dinner of his free-kick. It looked like an attempt to find Elder at the far post and although Redmond got a touch on it, he only succeeded in palming the ball into the netting, with Elder ready to pounce had it run free.

Riza immediately replaced Robinson with the points seemingly banked. Elder then made way to give Andre Gray his league debut, with only a minute of normal time remaining.

Only a magnificent save by Redmond denied Paul Murray from giving Town another four goal haul, and Muzza tried again seconds later with a similar, though less spectacular, outcome.

Shrews ended the game well on top, and the victory had been secured with a gutsy display against a resolute Burton outfit.

Full Time: Town 3 Burton Alb 1

ShrewsTRUST Man of the Match