Ben Davies of Notts County is tackled by Dean Holden of Shrewsbury Town

Shrewsbury Town boss Paul Simpson has urged his team to play for pride in the closing weeks of the season – but has not given up on a play-off push.

Town were beaten 1-0 by Notts County yesterday as former skipper Ben Davies scored a first half winner on his return to the Prostar Stadium.

It was a sixth successive defeat for Shrewsbury – their worst losing streak since suffering relegation in 2003 – who are now nine points adrift of the play-offs with just half a dozen games to play.But Simpson insists there remains plenty to play for.

“I don’t think you can say that’s it (for the play-off challenge), “ said Simpson.

“I don’t care if you are playing for play-offs or playing for pride.

“Every single game you have to do everything you possibly can.

“A career isn’t judged on how much money you make.

“A career is judged on how many appearances you make and how you do in those appearances.

“I want whoever is selected to go and do everything they possibly can to make sure they are in the next game and it’s the same for every day in training.

“If we are out of it – and I don’t think we are because we have still got 18 points to play for – we have to go out and play every single game wearing the shirt with pride and I thought there was a lot more of that yesterday.”

Simpson saw a “definite improvement” in his side’s performance against County but is aware, with the losing streak going on, that speculation over his on future remains.

“There is pressure on me to try and achieve something from a personal and the club’s point of view,” he added.

“I will continue to do everything I possibly can to try and be the one that turns it around.

“I’ve been in a worse situation than this before (at Carlisle) and turned it around so I hope nobody panics.

“I’m big enough, daft enough and strong enough to deal with whatever comes but I’m looking forward to another week of training and taking the team to Crewe next weekend.”

Defender Kelvin Langmead missed yesterday with a rib injury, while Jake Robinson was on crutches after suffering medial ligament damage in his knee.