Shrewsbury Town can still challenge for automatic promotion this season if they can resolve their miserable away record, boss Paul Simpson has insisted.

Last night’s 4-0 victory for Exeter over Macclesfield saw Town drop out of the play-off positions and into eighth place.

But the congested nature of the top-of-the-table gives Simpson hope his side can yet push for a top three finish – even though they have just a solitary away victory to their name so far this season.

“It’s been a case of getting back to basics this week and doing things that we were doing earlier on in the season,” said the Town boss. The thing we have been emphasising to the players is that it is still in our own hands.

“We are in a position where we have all the top teams to come and if we have any aspirations of getting promotion, we have to address the away form.

“We are all fully aware that one win in the League away from home is nowhere near acceptable.But it is still there for us – there is no doubt about that.

“We play Chesterfield, Chester and Luton in the next week and the League table can look a lot different after that, but we have to address the away form.”

Meanwhile, Simpson has confirmed Turkish forward Omer Riza is on trial at the Prostar Stadium.

The 29-year-old will not be able to aid Town’s promotion push this season as he is serving a four-month ban, imposed by the Turkish FA for a breach of contract following a dispute with former club Trabzonspor.

“I remember Omer before he went out to play in Turkey and I was interested in taking him at the time,” added Simpson.

“He did really well in Turkey and got in their national squad. Unless it is overturned by FIFA, he has got a four-month ban now which won’t expire before the end of the season.

“But he wants to train with us and prove he is worth a contract here after that. He is a good player with a good pedigree and is improving all the time in training so we will monitor that.”

By JAMES GARRISON