Not done until it's done - Shrewsbury boss Cowan

Shrewsbury Town head coach Gavin Cowan says he is still "concerned" about relegation following Saturday's fourth successive defeat.

Their run of six wins in seven matches following Cowan's arrival in January had taken them 13 points clear of trouble.

However, the weekend's 1-0 loss at relegation rivals Newport County has seen that gap cut to nine points with six games to play.

Cowan told BBC Radio Shropshire there is still a lot of work to do: "I was concerned when we were 13 points clear after those six wins.

"I've been saying the same message all the way along. I really wish we hadn't won that League Two Manager of the Month award [for February].

"I wish we'd just gone under the radar and no one had noticed us, and we'd have continued in the same vein. Until it's done, it is not done.

"The players now know they are right in it. We need to understand that we're in it. However, we came in just two points clear - we need to remember this."

Salop's four successive defeats have also seen the team fail to score in any of them, and they had one shot on target all game at Newport.

"It comes down to mentality," Cowan goes on. "These are the same players that we had when we won six in seven. That's something to remind ourselves of.

"The players need to take responsibility in terms of that mentality. We've had some choice words. At some point, people need to stand up and be men. I don't know what it's going to take for us to wake up and realise nothing is done.

"Six games left now, and the gap down to nine points with everyone winning around us. We can't be relying or waiting on anyone else. We need to stand up and be counted."

Shrewsbury are currently 19th in the table, with five sides below them and just two relegation spots. Cowan is asking for the players and the fans to stay the course:

"It's in our hands, but we all need to stick together and make sure we're the best version of ourselves.

"Everyone [the fans] will be going online and criticising, and I understand because we're all passionate about the football club, and we all want to do well.

"We need all of the supporters with us at Tranmere. We need everybody getting behind us; that includes the media, the club. Everyone needs to remain positive because the negativity is only going to drag us down.

"There's more than enough in that dressing room to get us back to winning ways. They need to give everything, and they need to know this is that time."