Shrewsbury manager Gary Peters today hailed his side’s best performance of the season – but warned: “Now we must keep our heads.”Play-off fever was cranked up a notch as Shrewsbury stormed into the top seven courtesy of a stunning 3-0 success over Rochdale at a buoyant Gay Meadow last night.

With many of Shrewsbury’s rivals for promotion slipping up as the pressure increases, Town appear to have the momentum heading into the final nine games.

But, despite his delight at his team’s showing last night, Peters is keeping his feet firmly on the ground.

“We have beat Stockport and Hartlepool 3-0 and put five past Boston but I didn’t get the same feeling in those performances as I did last night,” said Peters.

“It wasn’t just flashy – we were very solid in the first half and then caused them real problems in the second half.

“Because of that it’s probably as well as we have done – but I’m not the type of person to get carried away and even though we are in the play-offs, it’s still unimportant at the moment.

Difficult

“It’s in nine games time when it becomes important and I think we will know a lot more about what we can achieve by Easter Monday.

“We have got Swindon, Bury, Wycombe and MK Dons before then which are four very difficult games.

“We have given ourselves a chance but we have got to keep doing it the right way.

“I have got promotion as a player, coach and manager so I have experience of it and you just have to keep your head now and focus on the next game.

“It’s in our hands and if we keep winning, there’s nothing Wycombe or anyone else can do about it.”

Town’s injury list also appears to be clearing up at the right time with Michael Symes, Sagi Burton and Andy Cooke all amongst the substitutes last night, while Lee Canoville has also returned to training.

But none of those players will be risked in what will largely be a youth team which represents Town reserves in tonight’s Pontins League Cup semi-final at Lincoln.

The only first-team squad members in action are Scott Shearer, Luke Jones, Chris Humphrey and Steve Leslie.

Picture: Dave Edwards, centre, celebrates with Derek Asamoah and Stewart Drummond after scoring Town’s second goal in their 3-0 victory over Rochdale.

By James Garrison