Shrewsbury Town manager Paul Simpson has conceded his team’s hopes of automatic promotion from League Two have ended.

Despite Nick Chadwick’s first goal for the club, Town suffered a 2-1 defeat in their crucial Good Friday clash at Bury.

The result leaves Shrewsbury seven points adrift of the top three with four games remaining – a gap which could extend further depending on this afternoon’s results.

“I think we can forget about automatic,” said Simpson.

“But the situation doesn’t change. We still have to collect as many points as we can because, at the moment, there is no guarantee we are going to get a play-off place.

“We have to make sure we pick up enough points, starting against Rochdale on Monday, to get into those places.”

Simpson was pleased with his team’s display at Gigg Lane but frustrated by the manner of both goals conceded, including the late winner from former Town striker Glynn Hurst.

“We have put in a performance away from home that doesn’t deserve to lose,” he added.

“But on the flip side, if you don’t defend properly you are going to lose.

“I’m not going to moan about the referee too much because I think he had a decent game.

“But he has been conned for their penalty for the first goal.

“The lad (Andy Morrell) has dived. There is no two ways about it.

“To go in a goal down was disappointing but we kept plugging away and doing the right things and got the reward with a well worked goal.

“But the second goal is just pathetic defending.

“That’s the type of defending you would see on schools pitches and on a Sunday morning.

“It is no communication. We just have to defend it properly and we haven’t – it cost us yesterday and it’s cost us in other games.”

Town have little time to dwell on the defeat with Rochdale visiting the Prostar Stadium on Monday (3pm).

Simpson is hoping midfielder Paul Murray will be available for that game after being forced to withdraw after 70 minutes yesterday with a hamstring problem.

And Shane Cansdell-Sherriff and Glyn Garner are hoping to come back into contention after missing the trip to Bury with an ankle infection and family issue respectively.

By JAMES GARRISON