Two players uncertain about their Albion futures fired Shrewsbury to the brink of Football League oblivion.

Second-half goals by Paul Brooker and Martin Ling tamed the Shrews and left them with one foot in the Vauxhall Conference.

Brooker admits he is in the dark following a managerial change at his

parent club Fulham.

A similar scenario confronts Ling, signed on transfer deadline day in March for the rest of the season after Leyton Orient paid him up.

Both may be unsure what lies ahead, but there was nothing indecisive about their finishing at a packed Gay Meadow.

Brooker, released by Gary Hart, calmly slotted his second goal since joining the Seagulls on loan three minutes into the restart.

Ling, on in place of Rod Thomas, finished with equal aplomb 15 minutes from time after fellow substitute Scott Ramsay put him clear.

Shrewsbury were thrown a lifeline when Danny Cullip was sent off for a second bookable offence for the second time this season.

Cullip, already cautioned in controversial circumstances, was adjudged to have fouled sub Simon Sturridge by referee Richard Beeby.

Luke Rodgers, another replacement, beat Mark Ormerod to the ball to halve the arrears with two minutes left, but it came too late to affect the result.

Spat

The managers saw Cullip's red card rather differently. He was booked in the first half following a spat with goalkeeper Ian Dunbavin from a corner.

Beeby missed it, cautioning only Andy Crosby for something he said, before his attention was drawn to the fracas by his assistant.

Cullip and Dunbavin both had their names taken and the yellow card count had reached four for each side before Albion's player of the season- elect received his marching orders.

Boss Micky Adams said: "It was always going to be a game which needed a strong ref. There were occasions when he didn't deal with things I thought he should have.

"Danny assures me their young goalkeeper threw a punch at him. He got involved in that clash and after that the boy had to tread on eggshells a bit."

Shrewsbury manager Kevin Ratcliffe retorted: "They were lucky to have a man stay on for so long. I thought he should have been off well before for punching my goalkeeper. The only person that didn't see it was the ref."

It wasn't the only incident to provoke contrasting opinions in a predictably tense and frenetic match. John Gayle had a header disallowed just before half time. Adams said "From where I was it was a clear push." Ratcliffe reckoned: "There are turning points in matches and I thought that was a big turning point."

Adams would not have argued if Albion had gone behind, because the home side had much the better of the chances until Brooker struck. Ormerod made a good save to deny Gayle and the lively Lee Steele went agonisingly close twice.

Adam's decision to used Darren Carr up front again to "ruffle a few feathers" was recked by yet another injury for the uncompromising stopper, this time an ankle.

But Shrewsbury knew it was not going to be their day when, trailing 1-0, Ormerod failed to hold Kevin Seabury's shot and Dean Peer hit the rebound against a post.

Adams said: "It was a terrific result, although I couldn't see it coming. I was bitterly disappointed with our first-half performance. It wasn't acceptable.

"Before the game I spoke to my forward players about being positive. The onus was on Shrewsbury to win and I knew defensively they would be a little bit nervous.

"Unfortunately the occasion might have slightly got to my forward players and I needed half time to put them right.

"In the second half we were a lot more positive. Harty got free to put Paul Brooker in for a great finish and the second goal was classic movement which Ling got on the end of."

Shrewsbury, away to Exeter on Saturday, now need a helping hand from the Seagulls. They are two points adrift of both Chester, who host Peterbororough, and Withdean visitors Carlisle, but have a superior goal difference.

Adams added: "I have every sympathy with Kevin. It is not a position I would like to be in. He is a good manager and he will prove that given time.

"But they are where they are because they havn't done the business. You can never rely on other people's results. It's about what you do yourself and Kevin will understand that.

"We are going to give Carlisle a game, you can guarantee it. We want to be 14 undefeated."

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