Bookies back Shrewsbury Town over Aldershot

Shrewsbury Town have been backed to sustain their challenge for automatic promotion - by the bookies.

Town head to Aldershot tomorrow on the back of three successive victories and embedded in League Two's top three.

And while Bury and Wycombe are marginally shorter odds to take the direct route to League One, Graham Turner's side are feared by the odds-makers.

"Shrewsbury were as big as 4-1 at one stage of the season to get promoted and now they are 8-13," revealed Bet 365 spokesman Steve Freeth.

"There hasn't been absolutely bundles of cash for Shrewsbury in what is a wide open market.

"But punters are always keen to latch onto teams which are in form and that is certainly the case with Shrewsbury."

That will be music to the ears of Town's Mark Wright who is eyeing the dream end to 12 months of transformation.

"This time last year I was out of favour at Bristol Rovers and was really down," said the Wolverhampton born wide player.

"I just wanted to get out and play regular football and I've really enjoyed this season.

"To get promotion now would be the icing on the cake."

Wright believes five wins out of the final six games would seal his third successive promotion from League Two after already achieving the feat with MK Dons and Walsall.

But he knows the race for the top three spots is wide open.

"Even teams from just outside the play-offs could still get into the top three," added the 29-year-old, who has scored a dozen times this season.

"It's going to be close but we are playing well and looking forward to the last six games."

By JAMES GARRISON