Promotion specialist Mark Wright believes it could take until the final day of the season to decide Shrewsbury Town’s top three fate – as he revealed his satisfaction at silencing the Bristol Rovers boo-boys.

The winger, who turns 30 next week, is bidding for a League Two hat-trick having previously been promoted from this level with Walsall and MK Dons.

But he admitted the log-jam at the top of the table created by last night’s 1-0 victory over Rovers – which sees the top six teams separated by just two points – means it could take until the end of the campaign on May 5 to determine the top three.

• See pictures from Town’s win over Bristol Rovers

“I think it’s going to go down to the wire and who can keep their nerve,” he said. “When I have been promoted before, it’s usually been by April.

“But I think this season will go all the way because there are a lot of teams who are close together in the top six and nobody seems to be dropping points.

“There’s a belief at home that nobody is going to come here and beat us and we need to take that into our away form.”

Wright was subjected to jeers every time he touched the ball from the 449 travelling Rovers fans after spending 18 months at the Memorial Stadium before joining Shrewsbury last January.

But he was delighted to end the night smiling by helping condemn his former side to a first defeat under new boss Mark McGhee – who described Town as the best team in League Two – in his fourth game in charge.

“I thought we were the better team over the 90 minutes, “ he added. “It was a case of keeping composed and the goal and chances would come.

“I was always going to get stick and I’m just glad to get the three points and get one over my former teams.

“It probably helps a bit because you just want to prove them wrong. We have won the game and that’s the way to shut them up, but it’s about us getting the points and we came up trumps.”

Meanwhile, Town have moved a step closer to having a fully fit squad.

Australian defender Shane Cansdell-Sherriff was back amongst the substitutes last night after a three-and-a-half week absence from a shoulder injury.

Long-term knee victim Reuben Hazell is also closing in on a return after being sidelined since September while young defender Connor Goldson has returned to full training after suffering from a back niggle.

Marvin Morgan is available after serving his three-match ban.

See also:

• Shrewsbury Town goal ace James Collins hailed by boss
• Shrewsbury Town 1 Bristol Rovers 0