Having failed to score more than two goals in any of their last six matches, Rotherham have not been producing the kind of performances which you would usually associate with runaway leaders.
Nevertheless, they are collecting the results of champions-elect, and Paul Warne and his players will take satisfaction from how they continue to grind out results to move closer to a return to the Championship.
Michael Smith netted his 18th league goal of the campaign at the weekend as the Millers edged out playoff hopefuls Plymouth Argyle by a 1-0 scoreline, taking his tally to four strikes in nine outings since January 22.
On the face of it, there is nothing spectacular about that return, but the 30-year-old has completed the 90 minutes on all nine occasions, leading from the front while his defensive teammates do their bit at the other end of the pitch.
Ahead of trying to extend their winning streak on the road to six matches, Rotherham have kept clean sheets in eight of their last nine third-tier fixtures.
A five-match unbeaten streak either side of the new year helped Shrewsbury move away from the relegation zone, only for an eight-match winless streak to follow.
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In the knowledge that a home fixture with Rotherham awaited them on Tuesday, it upped the stakes ahead of the trip to Burton Albion, but Steve Cotterill’s side were finally able to get back on track.
Teenager Tom Bloxham chipped in with his second goal of the campaign before Matthew Pennington doubled that advantage after the break, guiding the Shropshire outfit to just their two away success of the season.
While the gap to the bottom four still sits at six points, Shrewsbury finally have more breathing space, but they need to raise their game for the second match in quick succession to build some much-needed momentum
