Determined defender Dean Holden has warned his upwardly mobile Shrewsbury Town team-mates not to rest on their laurels.

Town have moved themselves into the top seven of League Two after collecting a maximum six points from their last two outings against Crewe and Lincoln.

Holden is delighted with that return but is now anxious to move even closer to the top of the table, starting with this weekend’s visit of Northampton.

“We have done well but we have to move on to the next one,” said the 30-year-old full-back, who is part of a defence which has also kept successive clean sheets.

“All the back-to-back wins have done is give us a good start.

“The last thing we want to do is now take the foot of the gas like we did at Dagenham earlier in the season(losing 5-0).

“Maybe we will look back at Dagenham at the end of the season and see that as a real turning point because it gave everyone a kick up the backside.

“We know we can pass the ball as good as anyone but we have to keep drumming into each other to do the ugly things.

“We are getting up towards the top and hopefully we can get to first by the end of the season.”

Meanwhile, Ludlow striker Nathan Hodge will have a second chance to catch the eye of Town boss Paul Simpson in a match situation tonight.

Prolific goal-scorer Hodge was impressive in last week’s 2-1 reserve team defeat at the hands of Walsall.

And, after two days training with Simpson’s first team squad, the 20-year-old will get another second string run-out as a trialist for Shrewsbury at Port Vale (7pm).

Midfielder Craig Disley makes his comeback from injury, while Lewis Neal will start the game after an eye-catching substitute appearance at Lincoln.

The full team is: Andreas Arestadou, Danny Taylor, Harron Hooman, Connor Goldson, Steve Leslie, Andre Gray, WIll Richard, Craig Disley, Lewis Neal, Nathan Hodge, Kris Bright.

By JAMES GARRISON