Shrewsbury started life after Michael Appleton with a spirited 0-0 draw against Barnet.

Gavin Cowan's first game at the helm saw the relegation-threatened Shrews move three points clear of the drop zone after holding the play-off chasing Bees, who were made to rue their missed chances.

Visiting Barnet had the better chances, with Shrews goalkeeper Matt Cox, on loan from Premier League Brentford, making a trio of saves in the first half as he twice kept out Nnamdi Ofoborh and then denied Ryan Glover with the save of the game.

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At the other end, Sam Stubbs could only tamely nod his header at Cieran Slicker.

Cox produced another important stop on the stroke of half-time when he kept out Adam Senior's effort.

Barnet's Danny Collinge should have broken the deadlock in the second half when he fired into the side netting at the back post.

Rhys Browne fired over the crossbar as the visitors continued to threaten.

But Shrewsbury almost nicked it as substitute Tom Sang saw his strike go narrowly wide with 15 minutes to go.

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