Boss points to brighter times

Manager Gary Peters today hailed the changing face of his Shrewsbury Town squad by declaring: "It's the most encouraged I've been this season."Despite being reduced to 10 men, Town were only denied a deserved victory at in-form Grimsby on Saturday by an injury-time leveller.

Check out our match photo gallery here and read our new Shrewsbury Town blooger's thought here.

Peters is heartened by the performances given at Blundell Park and in the convincing home victory over Morecambe a week earlier as Shrewsbury begin preparations for tomorrow's trip to Bradford.

"It was obviously disappointing to concede so late but the performance is what you really look for in the long term and I see a big improvement in the last two weeks - we need to keep that going," he said.

"There has been a big change and I think a lot of that is down to the two midfield players (Asa Hall and Kevin McIntyre).

"The midfield is being run properly now and it's definitely the most encouraged I have been because even when we were picking up points at the start of the season, I still felt there was something wrong."

Peters has elected not to appeal against the dismissal of Colin Murdock for a professional foul on Danny North - Town's first sending off of the season - which will see the defender serve a one-match ban for the visit to Bradford.

"I've seen a lot worse not given in the Premiership," said the Town boss.

"Was he the last man? I think Marc Tierney was covering and would have put him under pressure but it was one of them things and we responded well to it."

Hartlepool's Ian Moore has become the latest striker to be linked with a move to Town as the closure of the January transfer window edges ever closer.

The former Tranmere, Nottingham Forest, Burnley and Leeds striker - who has attracted transfer fees of almost £3 million throughout his career - has bagged nine goals for the League One club which he joined last summer.

But sources in the north-east suggest 31-year-old Moore, who was made available for transfer last week, is keen to return closer to his Warrington home but Peters has refused to comment on the speculation.

Places on the coaches for tomorrow's trip to Bradford remain available from the Super Blues on 01952 604742 or the Official Supporters Club on 01743 770001 or 07981 593 437.