Currently 18th in the table going into this weekend's round of matches, Shrewsbury are still not safe from relegation following a dreadful run of results.

Shrewsbury had been just two points and two places away from the play-offs when they won on Boxing Day, but then came a disasterous slide down the table.

Tuesday's 1-1 draw at Morecambe was Shrewsbury's 15th consecutive game without a win.

Ironically, the last time the Shrews won was against Morecambe on January 19, and that lone victory ended a run of four straight defeats following that Boxing Day success.

That dismal run cost previous manager Gary Peters, brought in November 2004, his job on March 3 after seven consecutive winless games.
But another eight matches have since passed without Shrewsbury picking up three points.

Six of those outings have been under new boss Paul Simpson who took over in the Shrews hotseat in March 12.

Simpson has been unable to stop the rot, and Shrewsbury have picked up just three points from a possible 18 on offer under his tenure.

But Shrewsbury can guarantee they will be playing League Two football next season over the forthcoming two weekends.

After hosting Wrexham on Sunday, Shrewsbury then travel to Mansfield Town on April 19, and those two matches, along with results elsewhere, will either lift spirits in the Shrewsbury camp of leave the Shropshire club still not mathemtically certain of avoiding relegation.

And Simpson feels a win against rivals Wrexham would ensure Shrewsbury's survival – and relegate the Reds.

"We need one more result, and what a nice place to get it – in front of a good home derby crowd," Simpson said.

"We've got to be professional about it between now and then, and unfortunately, if it means we have to put another nail into Wrexham's coffin – then so be it – that's what we have to do."

Although Shrewsbury's winless run continued at Morecambe on Tuesday, Simpson was happy to have clinched a point.

"It was a classic point but it's the performance that pleases me," said Simpson, whose side came from behind to equalise through Marc Pugh.

"I think over 90 minutes that is probably as well as we have played. We showed fantastic commitment and workrate."

While Shrewsbury were earning a point against Morecambe, relegation rivals Wrexham and Notts County, who occupy the final safety place above the drop zone, lost at Milton Keynes Dons and Rochdale respectively.

And Simpson, whose side end their season with matches against Chester City and Rochdale after facing Wrexham and Mansfield in the next seven days, is hoping to begin that sequence with a win against Brian Little's Reds and give the Shrews fans something to cheer about.

"I know it's a point closer for us because the other teams at the bottom have lost," added Simpson.

"I want to go unbeaten to the end of the season. I don't like losing football matches. I thought we could have beaten Morecambe but I suppose I would have taken a draw before kick-off.

"I want to win Sunday's game, there's not a shadow of a doubt about that.

"I've looked in the programme at some of the results we've had at home and I think the fans have had a bit of a raw deal.

"Hopefully we can give them something to smile about against our local rivals which would set us up nicely for the last home game also against local rivals (Chester City).

"If we can finish the season as strongly as we can then we can get some momentum to take us into pre-season."

Having seen Shrewsbury go three months without a win, Simpson made a rare change in goal for Tuesday's draw with Morecambe.

Scott Bevan was brought in to the side, meaning regular shot-stopper Glyn Garner's 100 per cent record of league appearances this term was brought to an end.

Ben Herd, Darren Kempson – back after ending his loan spell at Accrington Stanley – Colin Murdock and Marc Tierney made up the four man defence.

Former Chester City duo Ben Davies and Kevin McIntyre, and another ex Blue, Wrexham-born Darren Moss, lined up in midfield alongside Steven Leslie.

And 12 goal leading scorer Dave Hibbert and Marc Pugh led the attack.

Defender Graeme Lee was absent after picking up a facial injury in the defeat at Chesterfield on Saturday and is doubful along with another defender, Kelvin Langmead, who has been sidelined in recently.