Simpson slams Shrews despite win
Shrewsbury boss Paul Simpson said his team's 1-0 victory against Chester City was one of the worst performances he has seen during his spell in charge.
Substitute Richard Walker scored the only goal of the game from close range.
Simpson told Radio Shropshire: "We were a disgrace in my opinion. That isn't a team that looks like they're going to get promotion.
"I'm delighted to get three points but I'm not happy about the way we've gone about it."
Town's 13th league win of the season at the Prostar Stadium saw them leapfrog Bradford and Rochdale into fourth in League Two.
Chester had their chances to win the game but Kevin Ellison hit the post and Ritchie Partridge spurned a great chance from close range.
Award winner Holt eyes promotion
Striker Grant Holt insists that being named League Two Player of the Year will be an extra spur to helping Shrewsbury Town win promotion.
"It's a great honour," Town's 26-goal top scorer said to 800 guests at the league's gala dinner on Sunday night.
"I want to reach 30 goals and, if I do that sooner rather than later, it'll hopefully help us to get promoted."
Paul Simpson's side currently lie in seventh, following Saturday's 1-1 draw at promotion rivals Wycombe.
"We're in the shake-up with just a few games to go," he said. "And, if we end up getting into League One, I'll be delighted that my goals have made a contribution."
Holt, who cost a club record £170,000 from Nottingham Forest last summer, has made League Two sit up and notice with his scoring exploits.
His 26 goals in 42 appearances included a memorable five in one game, the 7-0 win over Wycombe Wanderers in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy back in October.
But of the 18 he has scored in the league, only eight have come from open play, Holt having hit a staggering 10 from the penalty spot.
Holt beat off competition from Wycombe's Tommy Doherty and Charlie Macdonald, from leaders Brentford, to scoop the League Two prize.
Shrews loanee aims to make amends
Richard Walker hopes to make amends at Wembley next weekend for scoring the two Bristol Rovers goals which killed Shrewsbury Town's 2007 promotion dream.
Shrewsbury are back at Wembley on Saturday week for the League Two play-off final against Gillingham.
And, although Walker did not make Paul Simpson's squad for the semi-finals, he admits he is itching to play.
"I've got a few bridges to repair," the 31-year-old told BBC Radio Shropshire. "But I was only doing my job."
Having spent the season on loan at Shrewsbury from parent club Bristol Rovers, in an ironic twist, the former Aston Villa trainee now has the chance to rewrite that old 'wrong'.
Despite Stuart Drummond giving Town a third-minute lead at Wembley that day in May 2007, Walker scored twice for Bristol Rovers to help his side come from behind and win 3-1.
He still gets ribbed about the two first-half goals in 14 minutes which ruined Town's hopes of promotion.
"There's still quite a few lads here from then," grins Walker. "They bring it up now and then, but it's all in good heart.
"I'm sure the lads see it as another opportunity for them, what went wrong that day to put it right.
"It's so strange how things work out. At the time I had no idea I would end up at Shrewsbury. But I'm here now at a play-off final. It's just as good a buzz as it was back then.
"I've not been involved in the semi-finals, but I've got a week to do well in training and force my way into the squad and it will be a massive disappointment if I don't make it."
Walker has scored six times this season for Paul Simpson's side, the last of them in a 1-0 home win over Chester in mid-February. But, in recent weeks, he has been kept out of the team by Nick Chadwick and Omer Riza.
Winger Chris Humphrey is still the only injury concern with a hamstring strain for Saturday's final (23 May, 1500 BST).
No favours from father - Simpson
Shrewsbury Town's young midfielder Jake Simpson has stressed he gets no favours from boss Paul Simpson - his father.
The 18-year-old joined Town this summer after being released by Blackburn and has made seven appearances.
"He treats me as a player, no differently from any of the other players," he told Radio Shropshire.
"It's done professionally, and he's two different people to me really. What comes into the club stays at the club, what's at home stays at home."
"It's been a great start for me, and hopefully I've shown everyone I'm good enough to be in the team.
"Perhaps I've got a bit of extra experience from the Premier League at academy level that's standing me in good stead here.
"I want to do well for Shrewsbury Town for as long as I can, and I hope people see that I'm here for how I play rather than for who my dad is."
