The Seasiders surged into a 3-0 first-half lead and that would prove enough to earn a third win in six League One games.
Shayne Lavery, Jordan Rhodes and Karamoko Dembele all scored for the home side to put them in cruise control.
But a brace from Will Goodwin made it a nervy ending for the hosts – an unnecessarily fraught finish in their manager’s view.
“We made what could’ve been a comfortable night really difficult,” said Critchley. “We were very good in the first half and played very well – we could’ve had one or two more goals.
“We started the second half quite well and had some chances to finish the game, but we didn’t. They changed and that made a difference to them.
“When they get the second goal, it’s game on. I was disappointed with our second half, but I have to look at the positives as well and remember we still won the game.
“The players need to learn, and we will only get better. You’ve got to remember we still deservedly won the game.
“We were the team that deserved to win the game so let’s not forget that.”
Cheltenham did end their long wait for an away goal in League One when Ben Williams found Goodwin in the box and he netted from a tight angle.
His second came on 86 minutes when he touched home from close range after Rob Street’s looping header was not dealt with.
Cheltenham boss Darrell Clarke was left to rue lapses in the first half for his side’s fourth straight loss on the road in the league.
“Obviously disappointed with that first-half defending,” said Clarke. “Too many times their long balls caused us problems and we didn’t deal with that at the back.
“Second half, the response was good. We get that goal just before half-time and we get another one and we are chasing it. We are chucking more forward players on and the boys kept to it, so credit to them for that.
“It’s always going to be a difficult game for ourselves, coming to a team like Blackpool who are going to be in the top six. They have a squad of talent, but for effort, commitment and desire, it was all there to see.
“We are just really disappointed with the soft goals we gave away. We have to deal with the back post for the first one. The second one is a lucky deflection, when it ricocheted about three times and the other one he gets his shot away too easily for me.
“We are disappointed with that, even if they got a bit of luck for one of them. We kept going, working hard and caused them one or two problems. We’ll go again. “
Goals after half-time by Jordan Brown and Daniel Agyei – the latter’s first for the club – secured victory for the O’s at the Abbey Stadium as Richie Wellens’ side made it through their three Christmas games unbeaten and without conceding a goal.
Cambridge suffered their first two losses under Harris in that time, with their other match at Stevenage on Friday postponed.
“I’ve told the players what I thought and left them in no uncertain terms in the changing room,” Harris said.
“In my first four games in charge we’ve been outstanding. We’ve picked up seven points against three of the four top-10 sides.
“Tonight we took a step backwards. The level of performance, individually and collectively was nowhere near what we’ve produced in the first four games.
“The biggest disappointment is a lack of character and strength in the performance.
“I’m not used to my teams being out-competed at times. I don’t like it. I won’t accept it and I certainly won’t accept it here at the Abbey.
“At times we looked a little bit vulnerable, which I’d seen in games I’d watched earlier in the season.
“We know we need to eradicate that quickly. But I’m not going to bemoan the group too much because the first month has been really impressive.
“We gave two really poor goals away, really soft goals. I don’t want to talk about individual mistakes. All I said to the group is ‘individually and collectively we have to be strong and what we can’t do is make repetitive mistakes’.”
Wellens praised his Orient side’s dominance after the break, when the two goals arrived.
“That 25-minute spell was really, really good,” said Wellens.
“Defensively (we were) very solid all game, I can’t remember really conceding a chance to a team that are difficult to beat here and we could have had a couple more goals.
“The supporters can see straight away what a threat he (Agyei) carries. We’ve signed him because he can play right, left and centre-forward.
“He’ll grow in confidence, it’s his first goal in months because he’s been out injured.
“He can take a lot from that game in terms of confidence from his goal but a lot from it physically. We are a hard team to play up front for.
“What I ask of them sets up the rest of the team and if the strikers don’t do it, it has a knock-on effect for the rest of our team.
“Our back four are not being overworked all the time. That was a massive benchmark of us last year and it’s non-negotiable.”
The last victory on their travels came against Fleetwood in early August when they won 2-0 under the guidance of previous coach Mark Bonner.
Shrewsbury broke the deadlock through Dan Udoh, who beat U’s keeper Jack Stevens at his near post.
But it only took Cambridge two minutes to find the leveller through Lyle Taylor, who slotted home at the back post.
Taylor grabbed the winner just 30 seconds into the second half, poking home from within the box from an Elias Kachunga cross.
Harris said: “Firstly I’d like to praise my players not just for the victory but the mentality.
“The attitude to come from behind and score in the second half and then see it out relatively comfortably – I don’t remember Jack making a save after conceding the first goal.
“As much as Shrewsbury had a lot of the ball, and they are a big side who put it in the box, I thought we stood up to it really well.
“Credit to the players for that and credit to the fans for sticking with us because it’s been a long time since the last away win.
“We showed the character and composure in the key moments to score the goals we did, so credit to my players.
“The character of the boys to not only come from behind in that moment to score against the run of play but to respond as we did so quickly in Paul Hurst’s first home game when the fans could have really got behind them was vital.”
Shrews boss Hurst felt the timing of Cambridge’s goals hurt his side.
Hurst said: “I am frustrated after getting off to a good start as well.
“You are never quite sure how the game will pan out realistically but the timing of the goals we conceded was really disappointing.
“We got ourselves in front and no one really had time to celebrate enough and we end up back at 1-1.
“Then we come out for the second half and the next minute you are 2-1 down and against a team like Cambridge who have a good defensive record and don’t give up many chances that suddenly becomes a lot more difficult.
“I thought we had some good bits of play and had some possession, however we didn’t really create enough and that is the challenge.
“They defend deep and don’t give you much space, it was difficult to get in behind them often, I think we did do it the odd time.
“It didn’t feel like they did too much to us but probably from their point of view they felt they defended well and did a good away job.”
There was a distinct lack of drama in a drab opening 45 minutes in which neither side managed to create a chance of note.
But Charlton looked to be heading for maximum points as they went 2-0 ahead before the hour mark.
First substitute Daniel Kanu’s cross deflected off Jubril Okedina for Alfie May to strike his 19th goal of the campaign, 15 of those in League One.
Wolves loanee Chem Campbell headed past U’s keeper Jack Stevens from Corey Blackett-Taylor’s cross.
Cambridge, on a run of three straight league losses, were given hope of a comeback when Ahadme was left unmarked to head home from a corner in the 87th minute.
And the Ipswich loanee then kept his cool to convert from the penalty spot in the sixth minute of added time after referee Thomas Kirk ruled that Tayo Edun’s foul on Jack Lankester was inside the box.
Herbie Kane and Callum Styles provided first-half goals before Devante Cole added the third with 15 minutes to play.
Collins said: “Of course you want the three points but I think we’re still at the stage where the performance is really important and I thought we got both tonight.
“Credit to the players, we asked them to do both sides of the game because we knew Shrewsbury were a real threat; they beat Derby at the weekend and could have scored more goals.”
Barnsley were handed their first penalty at Oakwell for over two years.
Collins said: “It’s so strange for a team that for the last 70 games has been near the top of the league.
“I thought we got the type of penalty tonight that we’ve been getting against us and Herbie (Kane) stepped up and put it in the net, so it’s good for the fans to see that.”
On his side’s second goal, Collins said: “It’s an excellent goal, I thought Devante’s selflessness to put it on a plate for Callum Styles was great and obviously getting the second goal puts you in a good position at home.”
Shrewsbury head coach Matt Taylor was not happy with the penalty decision.
He said: “They’ve scored from a penalty which, in my opinion and I would say all the people here tonight supporting us would say, wasn’t a penalty.
“I don’t quite understand what you’re meant to do if your arm’s by your side and the ball is smashed at you from five yards away. I’m at a loss as to what you’re meant to do with that.
“After what I felt was a good start, we obviously concede that penalty and then we didn’t get a penalty, which I’m amazed with. And what happens, they score from a counter-attack.
“I think the reason we lost the game is because when we had really good opportunities, especially in the second half, we didn’t take them.
“That is the difference between what I think is the top, the middle and the bottom of this league.
“You see they have one opportunity in the second half from a counter-attack and their centre-forward scores. It’s a difficult one to take especially after the high of Saturday.
“We changed a couple of things at half-time to try and get more control of the game, I felt that worked. If we’d have scored at that point we’d have gone on I think.”
The visitors, who finished with 10 men following the dismissal of substitute Sam Cosgrove for two yellow cards in the closing stages, had fallen behind when the O’s were awarded a first-half penalty that Joe Pigott converted.
Barnsley turned up the pressure after the break and were rewarded when Herbie Kane equalised with an unstoppable 20-yard strike.
“I thought it should have been 0-0 at half-time but I am really pleased that the players were able to come from behind in a tough environment,” Collins said.
“We could have won the game. Equally we could have lost and Leyton Orient will have been pleased with their performance.
“Anyone that sees the penalty will feel the same as me. I don’t think there was a single person in the stadium that felt it was a penalty and we were very confused with what the penalty had been given for.
“I am pleased the players rose above it and come away with a point. There wasn’t much in the first 30 minutes but I thought they put us under pressure when they played directly into Pigott but we lost a goal when we should have been scoring a goal.
“The build-up to our equaliser was brilliant and I thought Herbie Kane was excellent in the second half.
“For a bit more composure we could have scored another but I was really concerned when we went down to 10 men we were going to lose it at the death but the players never gave up.”
Orient head coach Richie Wellens was equally pleased with his own players.
“I thought it was a very good performance and a very good game,” he said. “Two good teams and both found it difficult to get the ball off each other unless it’s a mistake.
“The goal is disappointing although it was a worldie strike for their equaliser. All in all I thought we deserved the three points. It shows how far we’ve come.
“They’re a great team and will be among it. We are gutted with a point and they were delighted.
“Athletic-wise and tactically I thought we were better than them at times. We caused them a lot of problems and could have scored four or five today so lots of positives.
“I have not seen the penalty decision back but we are probably due one. We were dominant but just need to shift and move the ball better at times.
“If we want to accelerate and move to the top end in this league then we do need to score more goals.”
Defeated by Portsmouth in midweek, the Tykes were ahead after just four minutes thanks to a brilliant volley by Callum Styles.
There was little between the teams for most of the game but Devante Cole’s ninth goal of the season two minutes from time confirmed victory for Barnsley, with Louis Appere’s stoppage-time strike nothing more than a consolation.
Collins said: “We got the early goal but there were some difficult moments in the first half and they had a lot of set-pieces.
“But I thought we defended really well as a team and controlled the second half. It was only in the last five minutes when we down to 10 men due to Kacper Lopata’s injury when they really put us under pressure.
“For most of game we were really good and we saw through the toughest parts of the game and then we looked like we would go on and score a second and third goal.
“To put in a good team performance like that and get a positive result is a good response from the other night. The only disappointment was not getting a clean sheet because I thought we deserved one.
“The first goal was a bit of quality. You wouldn’t expect anyone to score from there but as soon as Callum hit it I thought it had a chance of going in.
“It’s another great goal by Devante for the second. He was so unfortunate with the one that hit the bar but he doesn’t miss those.”
Northampton have now lost three games in a row and have seven points from their opening eight games.
“You can’t be giving away goals like we did,” admitted manager Jon Brady. “There’s no excuses for that.
“Any slight mistake we’re making at this level at the moment we’re bring ruthlessly punished and that was the case today.
“I don’t know what it looked like to other people but I felt we dominated the game against a team who were playing in the play-off final a few months ago.
“I went up and watched them against Portsmouth on Tuesday and it was such a high-level game.
“I felt the aggressiveness in both boxes was the difference.
“We put loads of crosses into the box in the first half but there was no-one getting across and I said that to the group. We had worked on it but there wasn’t that aggressiveness to arrive between the posts.
“You look at the quality they have on the bench, it’s unbelievable, but we were the team that was taking the game to them.”
Luther James-Wildin gave Stevenage an early lead before goals from John McAtee and Herbie Kane completed Barnsley’s comeback.
Collins said: “Overall, really pleased with the players in terms of their never-say-die attitude, defending the box and putting their bodies in front of everything.
“Overall, in the first half, I thought we were very good despite going behind again to an early goal which was really frustrating.
“The players responded really well and the only thing that was letting us down was some of the quality.”
On McAtee’s goal, Collins said: “It was an important time. The players, despite actually being in control, were getting a little bit nervous just because some of the passes weren’t coming off.
“We came from behind, something that I think is a great trait to have, I’d like to stop us going behind but we came from behind and overall, a big three points against a really difficult team.
“I think he’s been excellent and our strength and depth showed as well with the changes we were able to make”
On Kane marking his 100th appearance for the club with a goal, Collins said: “First of all, 100 appearances is excellent. It says a lot about Herbie, he’s always fit to train, always available when the chips are down.
“It’s a great bit of play because he’s seen the space and he’s took it and he kept driving. If you hit shots on target, things like that happen.”
Stevenage manager Steve Evans felt the result was harsh on his side.
He said: “It’s very hard to take isn’t it. We score a good goal; we were by far the better side.
“We miss a good chance, a one-on-one to make it 2-0, but we don’t hit the target and then we lose our concentration at the back, one ball does us.
“You’ve got to be fair to them, it’s a class finish.”
On his side’s start to the game, Evans said: “I thought we were terrific anyway, we dominated and got the goal.
“There’s a couple of pivotal moments isn’t there. Jordan Roberts should score; we did great to press and go through. At least hit the target, we didn’t do it.
“We’ve played really well today so I can’t come out here and criticise players.”
On the end of his side’s 13 game unbeaten run, Evans said: “We said ourselves that a win today would’ve brought back points that were left behind last week.
“I’ve always judged it on performance and we did enough to win last week.
“We’ve done enough today; we were outstanding for long spells.”
Sonny Bradley put Derby ahead in the 18th-minute but Phillips’ double strike either side of the interval gave the Tykes a valuable Sky Bet League One win.
Collins said: “The scenes at the end…the fans were excellent and the players were happy but no one was getting carried away.
“I think the players have been extremely professional and consistent over the season. Because of the big crowd, playing against a big club and where we are in the league, but I won’t have anyone saying we’ve got carried away.
“We enjoy (this one) like any other victory and we get ready again because we’re in a promotion race and we all know that promotion races are over a long period of time and we need that keep that level up.
“It was definitely great for the 18,000 here today to see the home team win. Everyone was telling me it was a ‘must-win’. Thankfully we’ve won the game and performed well. There will be lots of ‘must-wins’ between now and the end of the season.
“We started well but lost a goal against a set-piece. Derby are excellent at attacking set-pieces but we responded again, dug in and I think it says a lot about the group that we continued to play and do the right things and got back in the game with a fantastic goal. Then I thought we had a real good spell up until we got the next one.”
Collins praised two-goal Phillips, saying: “He’s been a major leader in the team with his performances. He’s scoring goals and winning tackles and he’s been excellent.”
Derby boss Paul Warne felt his side deserved a point.
He said: “Yes, it was a disappointing end. I thought first half, we weren’t at our best. I didn’t think we had any real character on the ball in the first half.
“They’re young, athletic players who just came after us. They didn’t give us any time on the ball. I thought we were poor in possession of the ball in the first half.
“It didn’t feel like we had any rhythm to our game in the first half. In the second half we started similarly and we made changes to try and change the way we looked.
“I thought we started to look good and then they scored from a set-piece, which is horrific.
“Then I thought the lads gave everything they could and kept going until the end. I can’t knock their character, but we didn’t create enough real gilt-edged chances.
“I think most people would agree that a draw would have been a fair result.”
Cole opened the scoring in the 21st minute with a curled effort from the edge of the box, before completing his double 22 minutes from time.
Collins said: “I think it was a very professional performance, there was a lot of real good aspects.
“We always want more, we always want to come in with three or four goals and a clean sheet but I think overall there’s lots to be happy with and the most important thing, three points.”
On his side keeping a clean sheet, Collins added: “I think we deserved a clean sheet; I would’ve been disappointed not to get it.
“I think the reason we maybe couldn’t create more clear cut opportunities was because Burton were hard to break down, but therefore they found it hard to mount serious attacks.
“Overall, it was a positive team performance and a lot of hard work has gone in over the past couple of weeks.”
On the performance of Cole, he said: “Scoring goals wise he’s been excellent but the rest of his game has been really good for the team.
“He’ll be the first to say how well his team-mates have supported him, creating the chances and helping him on the press to get the ball.
“To have a striker so alive in front of goal, that’s what every manager wants.”
Burton manager Dino Maamria admitted they need to work on certain aspects of their decision making.
He said: “I thought some parts of the game were really, really good.
“When we get to the last 30 yards, our decision making needs to be better, our quality needs to be better.
“We’ve got to be patient; we know we’ve got a good front line.
“I think we don’t want to get to frustration and desperation because we know the problem, we’ve got to work on it.
“Our build up is really good from the back into the midfield, but when we get to those areas in the last 30 yards of the pitch, we move the ball really well in those areas and then lack the bit of quality there and that’s something we need to work on.”
On his side’s confidence coming out after the break, Maamria said: “If you look at the first half, they had one shot and they scored.
“They’ve got a brilliant forward; he’s been around the league for a while.
“He scored an unbelievable goal from 25 yards out, that’s just the quality you pay for and you can’t be disheartened with that because we’re playing against quality players in a quality team.
“We’re disappointed with how easy they got to the byline for the second goal, it’s something that we’ve worked on.”
Cole opened the scoring early in the second half after a slick counter-attack, with substitute Max Watters adding the second in stoppage time.
Collins’ side were up against it for much of the first half, but a series of saves from Liam Roberts ensured Cheltenham remain goalless this season.
And the Tykes’ second half secured a third win of the season, lifting them to eighth in the Sky Bet League One table.
“Devante took his goal so well,” Collins said. “He’s working so hard and deserves his goals.
“They put us under pressure, but our keeper stood tall.
“The second half was the most pleasing thing. We came out and put them under pressure and upped the speed and tempo of our passing.
“The first goal came from a counter-attack, but we had a few good chances before that.
“We had to defend well after taking the lead, but when teams throw caution to the wind, I think we can take advantage of that.
“I thought the game was made for Max at that point in the game. I’m glad he got on and got his reward.
“We’ve got great strength in depth and now have to come together for the good of Barnsley.”
Cole struck in the 54th minute at the end of a swift counter-attack from the Tykes after Kacper Lopata headed away a Cheltenham corner.
It was four against one and John McAtee fed Nicky Cadden, who in turn set up Cole to slot past Luke Southwood.
Watters added the second in the second minute of time added on after Southwood blocked Aiden Marsh’s effort.
Barnsley had Roberts to thank for being on level terms at half-time as Cheltenham attempted to end their long wait for a goal this season.
Roberts denied Rob Street at his near post in the 10th minute and made an even better save to turn Lewis Freestone’s header over six minutes later.
At the other end Jack Shepherd’s header hit a post and bounced into the arms of Southwood just before the break.
Cole opened the scoring before Nicky Cadden thumped an effort against a post on the hour.
Street forced Roberts into a one-handed save in the 61st minute and the Robins have now gone more than 10 hours without a goal, with Watters compounding their misery in the final moments.
Robins boss Wade Elliott saw enough positives from his team’s performance to believe their fortunes will soon change.
“I don’t think the result reflected the game or the performance,” he said.
“It’s obviously a tough one to take, especially off the back of where we are at the minute.
“We made loads of chances and I am not sure how it’s stayed out. The goalkeeper has made a couple of worldy saves, we’ve had a couple of opportunities, so that is the positive.
“The fans were really supportive and I think they could appreciate the performance, recognise the effort, they are not dummies and they watched the game and will realise on a different day, it could get you a completely different outcome.”
Liam Kitching, Jon Russell and debutant Andrew Dallas also got on the scoresheet, with Vale defender Dan Jones turning into his own net before the break.
Collins said: “The way he took his goals were clinical. For me Devante scored them when we needed him to, and he really took the game away from Port Vale with those finishes.
“He’s been working really hard with Jon Stead and you can see that with the individual aspects of the performance.”
Collins replaced Michael Duff, who left for Swansea after guiding the Tykes to the League One play-off final last term, at Oakwell this summer.
He said: “When you have a result like that, you can never consider it prior. My biggest thing was wanting to see us perform and see us do the things that we know the team can do.
“You could see that even though they’re young players, they know what it takes and they took control of the game as well. I think they all played fantastically well.
“The big thing for me is having the belief in themselves about how good they can be. We’re all guilty at times of limiting ourselves of what we can do and they know that effort and quality won’t always be rewarded with seven goals, but they showed the quality that I expect.”
Debutant Corey O’Keeffe set up the first goal for Cole, who is the son of former England and Manchester United striker Andy Cole, but only lasted 33 minutes due to injury.
Collins said: “It’s too early to say, we knew he was carrying something slight. It’s not great, he’s a big loss because he’s come in and done very well.”
Port Vale manager Andy Crosby bemoaned his side’s defending.
He said: “The manner of the goals we conceded, the time period particularly in the second half when we conceded four goals in a 17-minute period is difficult for me to accept.
“I think the ease in which they scored goals, they got balls into our box and the amount of one touch finishes in-between our posts is very concerning.
“It’s important that we all learn, that the individuals learn and our response now going forward is key. It’s obviously a very difficult start for us, one thing we obviously didn’t want.
“But we also know that throughout the season there’s going to be really challenging periods and to start off the first game being beaten 7-0 is obviously not the start we wanted.”
May was signed in the summer from the Robins to score goals. That is exactly what he is doing – and at a prolific rate.
The Charlton striker’s brace against his old employer means that he now has 29 league goals in 2023 – a figure only matched in England by Manchester City’s Erling Haaland.
May struck twice from the penalty spot to see off Cheltenham.
Appleton said: “It’s difficult for him because he knows them so well – whether it is the goalkeeper or the outfield players. There was certainly more pressure on him tonight than there probably would be against anyone else.
“For him to have the calmness and nerves of steel to slot the two penalties away just speaks volumes of him.
“I keep reading that I’m not playing him in the right position but he’s doing alright considering that because he has scored a lot of goals from there and he looked like he could have got two or three more in that first half.
“He’s in a good place and I’m glad he’s in a good place because when he is then he is hard to stop.
“It’s the most satisfying victory since I’ve been here. We didn’t get off to the start we would’ve liked and it was a poor goal from our point of view to concede – for lots of reasons.
“After that we should have been out of sight by half-time with the amount of opportunities we had. I know the keeper made some good saves but we have to be more clinical in front of goal than what we have been tonight and certainly that first half – but the players held their nerve and limited them to very little, especially second half.”
Town saw their three-game unbeaten run in the league ended despite taking a 10th-minute lead through Will Goodwin’s header.
Lewis Freestone tripped Miles Leaburn for the first penalty, with Will Ferry deemed to have handled Tyreece Campbell’s cross for the second. #
Manager Darrell Clarke said: “When you come to places like Charlton you need the rub of the green – one or two decisions to go your way – and it didn’t quite happen.
“We started the game really well and then gave a really sloppy penalty away, we shouldn’t be diving in there.
“It’s a frustrated changing room. We thought it was a foul in the lead-up to the second penalty and he’s never going to try and deliberately handball it there.
“If we’d have got the second goal it would’ve made it interesting. I said to the boys we can’t afford to be too downbeat. We have got to stay positive. The lads have given me everything and that’s all you can ask.
“We’ve got a big squad but lacking a little bit of quality, rather than quantity. That will be the way it is until the window opens.
“We are massive underdogs in every game we play.”
Adam is the third manager in the Fleetwood hot seat this season after succeeding Lee Johnson, with Monday’s defeat leaving them bottom of the table.
Shrewsbury got the first goal in the ninth minute after Nohan Kenneh scored from an Elliott Bennett corner.
Chey Dunkley scored the second from another Bennett corner just before half-time.
Jordan Shipley smashed home the third for the Shrews from a Tunmise Sobowale cross just before the hour mark before Fleetwood pulled one back in the 66th minute through Nathan Rooney.
Adam said: “I’m really proud to get the opportunity to become the manager of the football club.
“It has been a tough 48 hours really in turnover and one session with the players, but I have seen enough in that 90 minutes to show that there were some real positives.
“We just never seemed to get to grips with the set-plays, but that is something we will work on and get better.
“I said to the lads in there, even though we lost 3-1, I am delighted we kept going until the end. They were brave and wanted to play.
“We have only worked out of possession. We have not touched on anything in possession yet and I still thought at times we caused them problems and some good performances from the lads.
“Shaun Rooney coming back in was exceptional and the standards day to day for him to really drive the team were brilliant.
“It’s important that we stick together and everybody becomes aligned in what we want and it will take time, but we have to win football matches.”
Shrewsbury boss Matt Taylor said: “We have got three points today and, if I’m being picky, we should keep a clean sheet.
“The third goal that we scored today was excellent. We got into their half and there were numerous passes. It was a fantastic ball in from Tunmise, who was really good today, and Jordan Shipley, with that calmness, put it into the back of the net.
“We looked a threat today from set-plays. We changed our set-up because we conceded four goals in the last four games and it was costing us points.
“We were far better with the ball and, when we got those big moments, we took them.”
The hosts started well and their best opportunity came when the ball reached Junior Quitirna, whose and his acrobatic kick hit the post before being cleared off the line.
But, they came to rue their missed chances when Shrewsbury took the lead with their first shot of the game.
A mistake from Scott Robertson put Daniel Udoh one-on-one and he easily scored.
Before half-time Fleetwood goalkeeper Jay Lynch was shown a red card for bringing down Ryan Bowman.
After the break, Salop made the most of the extra man with Carl Winchester driving into the box from out wide to force a save from substitute goalkeeper Stephen McMullan.
However, Fleetwood responded when Jack Marriott poked a cross into the back of the net but the flag was up for offside.
The Cod Army continued to push but then lost Josh Earl late on to another red card in stoppage time.
Sam Hoskins and Patrick Brough were on target for the Cobblers.
Northampton dominated as Mitch Pinnock crossed to the back post where Hoskins ghosted in, but his shot was superbly saved at close range by Vili Sinisalo.
With their next attack after 20 minutes, the visitors went in front when Hoskins was played through on goal by Shaun McWilliams and made no mistake, rolling the ball between the legs of Sinisalo and into the net from 15 yards.
Exeter’s first attempt came in the 27th minute, but Sonny Cox was off target from 18 yards and then Yanic Wildschut shot straight at Lee Burge from the edge of the box.
McWilliams should have put the game to bed, but was denied by a superb block by Exeter defender Alex Hartridge, while Pinnock was off target with another shot from 25 yards.
Exeter huffed and puffed, but rarely looked like scoring with Northampton always the more likely on the counter attack and the Cobblers wrapped it up in stoppage time when they broke at pace and Kieron Bowie squared for Brough to tap in from eight yards.
Kieron Bowie gave the Cobblers the lead after a goalless first half before Sam Hoskins scored his 10th of the season just five minutes later, with Gassan Ahadme’s late goal nothing more than a consolation.
Northampton started in the ascendancy and had the better of the early chances with Marc Leonard’s shot beaten away by Jack Stevens before an unmarked Bowie headed wide, but the first half lacked goalmouth action.
The breakthrough arrived four minutes into the second half when a mix-up in the Cambridge defence allowed Bowie to nip between defender and goalkeeper and roll into an unguarded net.
And five minutes later the home side doubled their lead as a wonderful move ended with Hoskins converting Patrick Brough’s low cross via the woodwork.
Cambridge halved the deficit with 13 minutes to play when Thompson spilled a long-range shot and Ahadme tapped in.
But they then lost a man when Paul Digby saw red for two yellow cards in a matter of seconds and that put an end to their hopes of getting anything from the game.
Pinnock’s sweet finish was the difference at half-time before McWilliams added the gloss in stoppage time as the mid-table Cobblers plunged Vale deeper into relegation trouble.
There were chances at both ends in the opening three minutes as Sam Hoskins volleyed over for Northampton before Vale’s Ethan Chislett forced goalkeeper Lee Burge into a sharp low save.
Burge denied the same player with another good stop later in the first half before Northampton went in front after 34 minutes when Pinnock finished crisply into the bottom corner after being sent through by Kieron Bowie.
Ben Garrity headed over and also scuffed wide at the start of the second half before Vale applied sustained pressure on the home goal without reward.
Uche Ikpeazu could not beat Burge when put through one-on-one and Vale’s defeat was confirmed at the death when McWilliams tapped in after good work by Tyreece Simpson.
The home side were dominant in the first period and goals from Sam Hoskins and Louis Appere gave them a 2-0 lead at half-time.
Reading fought back and Dom Ballard’s goal 24 minutes from time resurrected hope of a comeback, but that was killed off by Mitch Pinnock in stoppage-time.
“I think we showed both sides of our game tonight,” said Brady. “For the first 15 or 20 minutes, I felt we had them on the back foot with how we started and how we played.
“It gave us a strong foothold, especially when we got that early goal from Sam. That was really important but full respect to Reading because I think they are a high level side.
“We watched them over and over and they play with a 4-2-2-2 and their movement is excellent. We compressed them and worked so hard and in the second half we really had to dig in and show a different side to our game.
“They pushed their full-backs right on but we were a threat on the counter-attack and got that third goal at the end.
“We dominated the first 25 minutes and then had to weather a few storms but I’m just pleased to make it back-to-back wins because that’s hugely important at this level.”
Having been docked four points this season, Reading are now third from bottom in League One with just six points from their opening 10 games while Andy Yiadom – an unused substitute – was shown a red card by the referee in stoppage time.
Royals boss Ruben Selles said: “It’s a tough night and again it was the first part of the game where we were not ready.
“We came here with an idea of how to play at the start of the game but we did completely the opposite and it’s difficult to come back after those tough moments.
“We had some opportunities to equalise but their goalkeeper made two fantastic saves and then straight after we concede another goal and that makes it very difficult.
“We did well in the second half, we got the goal and we had chances to score again but you can make mistakes when chasing the game in the last few minutes and we did that.
“We need to reflect and we need to learn quickly. We’re not scoring enough goals but we’re getting into the right positions so we need to be more ruthless and more clinical with our finishing.
“That’s the thing which is stopping us from winning games.”
It was the Valiants’ first win in 11 league games and stretched Exeter’s winless run to 11, with the home fans again voicing their frustrations at full-time towards under-fire manager Gary Caldwell.
Exeter made a positive start to the game and should have gone in front when Immy Niskanen’s cross fell to Harry Kite at the back post, but his shot was charged down by Connor Ripley.
The visitors responded with Conor Grant dragging a shot wide from 18 yards, but they went in front after 30 minutes when a corner was flicked on at the near post by Ben Garrity and Arblaster finished from close range.
Exeter were booed off at the break and Yanic Wildschut drew a save from Ripley early in the second half, while Niskanen missed a great chance when he scuffed Pierce Sweeney’s cross into the ground and the ball was headed behind.
The home side huffed and puffed, but they lacked quality in the final third and Exeter’s miserable afternoon was compounded in stoppage time when captain Will Aimson was sent off for a second yellow card.
