INJURY-ravaged and Covid hit Accrington Stanley battled to a hard-earned draw and well deserved point at Shrewsbury Town last night.

John Coleman was forced to field a bench full of youngsters as he was missing five players due to Covid as his squad was decimated by illness and injuries.

But while the game was devoid of any real quality, the Reds stretched their unbeaten run to three games - all three without conceding a goal.

They remain in 10th place in League One, six points outside the play-off places while the Shrews - managed by former Burnley boss Steve Cotterill - climb to 16th, six points above the relegation zone.

Both sides had their chances, but it was a game where both sides cancelled each other out over the 90 minutes.

The hosts moved further out of relegation trouble as they went three league games unbeaten for the first time since September.

Stanley squandered a great chance to fire themselves closer to a coveted play-off place.

Marko Marosi was lucky as he spilled Matt Butcher’s strike before eventually gathering it.

Down the other end, Daniel Udoh raced onto a long ball and forced Stanley stopper Toby Savin into a good save with his body.

And Savin made an even better save to keep Elliott Bennett’s 20-yard free-kick out 10 minutes before half-time.

Just after the hour Marosi and Ethan Ebanks-Landall scrambled Ross Sykes’ effort off the line.

Udoh had a long-range effort in the 72nd minute but he could only find the advertisement boards as the game ended goalless.