Captain Graham Coughlan today insisted Shrewsbury’s automatic promotion dream remains intact as the League Two run-in gathers pace.

Town saw two precious points slip through their grasp after having to settle for a goalless stalemate against Morecambe – their fourth draw in five games – at the Prostar Stadium on Saturday.

That left Paul Simpson’s side in seventh place, the final play-off berth, and five points off the automatic slots. But Coughlan insists there is all to play for with 21 points up for grabs.

“They (the top three positions) are still in reach,” said the 34-year-old. “We are in there fighting and we have given ourselves a chance.

“If you can’t enjoy a seven game run-in like this, you shouldn’t be involved in football – it’s exciting.

“There’s going to be lots of twists and turns but the important thing is it is in our hands.

“If that starts drifting and our destiny is not in our own hands, then you would get worried.

“But it’s what we do – not what anybody else does – which dictates where we end up and how successful this football club will be.”

Coughlan admitted that, with results elsewhere, Shrewsbury had missed a chance to claw back ground on the teams above them.

But the captain was determined to remain upbeat.

“We have come in and seen the results and it’s an opportunity missed and we can’t keep letting that happen,” he added.

“It’s happened all too many times this season.

“But we have to take the positives. We have kept a clean sheet, it’s another point on the board, we are still in seventh place and a point nearer where we want to be. But we are running out of games.

“We didn’t create an awful lot of chances and, at times, we got into the kick and rush football that doesn’t really suit us.

“We lacked that bit of guile that could have unlocked the door.”