Dale 3 Shrewsbury 0 - that's more like it!

First and foremost, they needed a positive result against Shrewsbury Town but not only did they get that, they put in the kind of performance that will do wonders for confidence and belief all-round.

Ian Watson looked like a man who had the weight of the world lifted off his shoulders at full-time while his players soaked in well-merited adulation following a superb team shift.

If this is how “Watson-ball” can look, then there will not be too many complaints.