Frustrated boss Paul Simpson has called on an abusive “minority” of Shrewsbury Town fans to take a reality check.

The Town chief felt he had been subjected to unwarranted heckling during Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Burton Albion – a result that extended Shrewsbury’s unbeaten run in League Two to four games.

A win had appeared there for the taking after Dave Hibbert had put them in front and the hosts had been reduced to 10 men following Guy Branston’s 38th minute dismissal.

But Simpson, while disappointed to see two points slip from his grasp, labelled the criticism he heard being thrown his way as “an absolute joke”.

“We’ve taken seven points (from the last three away games) and I find it incredible that I’m still getting abused,” he declared.

“I find it an absolute joke, to be honest. I applauded the fans from the sidelines, but I’m not going to walk over and take abuse to my face.

“They need to have a bit of a reality check and have a look at where we are in the table and what we’ve had to deal with this season.

“They’re fantastic the way they’ve turned up in their numbers and I know it’s only a minority, I know it’s only the odd one voice grumbling and moaning away.

“I’m just disappointed we don’t all stick together – supporters as well- and all enjoy the fact we’ve taken seven points from nine.”

Simpson also had to contend with losing skipper Graham Coughlan inside 10 minutes at the Pirelli Stadium, the experienced centre-back limping off with a hamstring injury. The extent of the damage was being assessed today.

But he was delighted by the impact of debutant right-back Danny Taylor. The 18-year-old, a second year scholar at Shrewsbury, was deputising for the suspended Dean Holden.

“I thought he did very well, we couldn’t have asked any more of him,” said Simpson.

“He passed the ball very well, he got tackles in, he got in good defensive areas, he looked confident and he hasn’t done himself any harm at all.

“I’m delighted for him – I said to him before the game he’d earned this chance and he hasn’t let us down.”

l Striker Nathan Elder made a successful start to his loan spell at AFC Wimbledon, scoring within three minutes of his debut to set the Dons on the road to a 2-0 win over Mansfield.