Boss Paul Simpson admits that he can see the finishing line on the horizon as he leads his Shrewsbury Town team to Bournemouth for another crucial League Two showdown tomorrow.

Town find themselves in the play-off places as they enter the end-of-season run-in.

Inconsistency and a dismal away record still threatens to undo all of their good work, though – and condemn Town to another season in England’s fourth tier.

“The first 29 games set the scene, the next ones decide the outcome,” said Simpson.

“We’ve enjoyed the season so far but now is the massively important part.

“There is still a long way to go but you can begin to see the finish line. 

“We have to go to these difficult places – places like Bournemouth – and do the job.

“It’s all in our hands and whilst that is the case we have a fighting chance.”

Sixth-placed Town could climb to as high as second tomorrow with their first league victory on the road since September.

Simpson said: “There are some big games in League Two this week. 

“Dagenham are at Bury, Gillingham are playing Bradford and then there is Wycombe against Darlington – everyone is playing each other and they can’t all win. 

“This is going to happen now until the end of the season because there are still so many teams involved.

“Bournemouth is a difficult place to go – they have a decent home record and haven’t conceded that many – but we know that we have to be better away from home.

“We’ve had a good win on Tuesday night and we know we need to start putting runs together if we want to be in the mix.”

Central defender Graham Coughlan is fit to start after limping off late on against Accrington with a dead leg.

Paul Murray and Shane Cansdell-Sherriff continue to make good progress with injury but Simpson will wait until the last moment before deciding whether to include them in the squad.

By SEAN WOZENCROFT