MICHAEL Collins reckons City’s first-day win at Shrewsbury demonstrated the team spirit he is engendering within the new-look squad.

Jack Payne fired the only goal midway through the first half of a game that flew from end to end.

Collins said: “It’s an emotional game, whether you’re a player or a member of staff.

“But I said from day one that I have a trust and belief in these players.

“There’s a real togetherness and I see that every day in training.

“I just knew that when the chips are down that men will stand strong and take the fight forward – and that’s what they’ve done.

“Even the ones that were on the bench that didn’t come on, you could see that togetherness.

“Those who weren’t in the squad today and stayed back home pushed everybody through that extra five per cent in pre-season.

“It was end-to-end but Shrewsbury are a very good team who just missed out on promotion last season.

“I’m not going to get too caught up in the performance but we were looking for that leadership from players to take the mantle on themselves and we got it.

“I’m really pleased and it ticks the boxes. But we calm down now and our focus moves to Barnsley next week.”