A COUPLE of weeks ago, Shrewsbury were looking comfortable to survive their first season back in League One.

Unbeaten in seven games since their FA Cup exit to Manchester United, Micky Mellon's side were easing towards a low-key end to the season.

But that has suddenly changed as back-to-back defeats to Wigan and Millwall – coupled with the teams around them picking up form – has seen the gap to the fourth relegation spot slashed from nine points to just one.

While Oldham, Fleetwood and Chesterfield have been picking up big results, Shrewsbury have been the fall guys.

They still have two games in hand on Blackpool, the side currently occupying 21st place, but the fixture list is a daunting one.

Having lost to two promotion contenders, they still face trips to Gillingham and Walsall after tomorrow's clash with City.

Yet Mellon dismisses any suggestion his team are "sleep-walking" towards an immediate return to League Two.

He said: "I'm keen this town gets a team to represent them they're proud of. We'll fight and we'll make sure we show them we care.

"We take our medicine, usually in the form of red wine, but by ten to five on a Monday morning, I'm ready to go again."

Shrewsbury have not been helped by the fact they have finished the last three games with only ten players on the pitch.

Keeper Mark Halstead was the latest red-card victim after giving away a penalty in the 3-1 loss at the Den – a game Shrewsbury had led and dominated. It was also the 11th spot-kick they have conceded.

Jayson Leutwiler will take over in goal and Zak Whitbread returns from suspension – one of three centre halves who missed the Millwall game. Nathaniel Knight-Percival is still banned and Jermaine Grandison is out with an injured hip.

Mellon said: "Out of the last 25 years, we've only been in this division for two of them. So getting this club to stay and be established in this division for longer is a massive ambition.

"It's a tough ask for us because there are a lot of clubs paying wages that would make people's hair curl. But it doesn't mean we're not up for the fight."