We looked a completely different team - Appleton

Shrewsbury Town boss Michael Appleton believes their January signings have made the League Two strugglers a "completely different team".

Forwards Iwan Morgan and Trey Ogunsuyi, and midfielder Nick Freeman all made their league debuts for the Shrews in Saturday's 1-0 win over Harrogate in a huge relegation clash.

Defeat would have seen Appleton's side leapfrogged by the Sulphurites and drop into the bottom two, but Taylor Perry's second-half strike earned a first league win in nine matches.

"I think they bring a different dimension to us. We looked a completely different team if I'm being honest and that's what I want going forward," Appleton told BBC Radio Shropshire.

"We've gone with a back four and it's a formation that I'm much more comfortable with.

"We will be very different going forward. I think we'll cause teams more problems and hopefully score a lot more goals."

The Shrews boss is targeting two more signings before the transfer window closes on Monday, 2 February, including 22-year-old Flint Town United centre-back Isaac Lee who was at the Croud Meadow on Saturday.

"We're very, very keen and from a profile point of view Isaac fits everything that we need and want going forward," Appleton said.

"I believe an agreement is in place, but ultimately he will have three or four options, so he and his agents will clearly have the final decision. But if he wants to come here I think it'll happen pretty quickly.

"Regardless of what happens with Isaac, there's still one more (signing) that I'd like to do and if we get more than one, it's an added bonus."

Appleton says a team meeting before their FA Cup exit at Wolves pinpointed the amount of games they will need to win to avoid dropping into the National League.

On Saturday, Salop were the only side to win in a bottom six separated by just seven points, and climbed up to 20th, four points clear of the relegation places.

Shrewsbury dominated Saturday's basement battle, with eight attempts on target to Harrogate's one, but they were almost made to pay for failing to add a second goal when Tom Cursons hit the bar late on for the visitors.

"That would have been a dagger to the heart had that gone in, but if that's luck, then I think we earned it," Appleton said.

"We were brave and aggressive, and I thought we were the only team that actually wanted to win the game and we got our just desserts for it."