Mike Jackson: Five wins needed for Shrewsbury Town survival

Jabo Ibehre scored the only goal to leave the Shrews mired deep in the relegation, four points adrift of the safety mark.

When asked if they can still survive, boss Jackson remained defiant but admitted they need to win five games between now and the end of the season. Town have won just seven in the league all season and once in their last 14 matches.

"Can we stay up, yes, why not?" he said. "But I think we are going to have to win five games. We have to play teams around us and we need to add quality now in the final third to back up what we are doing work-rate wise.

"We will have to re-group. There are nine games left, not just three or four, we have time but we have to start picking up points quickly.

"We have had too many draws and not converted them into wins. When we have chances we have got to take them."

Jackson admitted frustration at his side's lack of bite in the final third after they rarely threatened to breach the home defence. Colchester were worthy winners after twice hitting the bar, though the game might have been different had Tom Eaves converted an early chance for Shrews. But the striker sent his header over the bar from six yards out.

"If that goes in it's a totally different game," said Jackson. "It puts them on the back foot and it's disappointing we haven't taken that.

"It's happening time and time and time again. Sometimes it just knocks the stuffing out of the players.

"Maybe we deserved a point. I don't think we cansay we deserved to win that. We'd be kidding ourselves if we thought that."

Jackson handed a debut to full-back Dominic Iorfa off the bench after signing the 18-year-old on an initial month's loan from Wolves just hours before the game.

"He just gives us that bit of cover for Jermaine because we don't know how he is going to react in games," added Jackson.