Wigan manager Roberto Martinez admitted his side must now make the most of every chance to pick up Premier League points after they were edged out 2-1 by Everton at Goodison Park.
Goals from Leon Osman and Phil Jagielka put the home side in control and despite Arouna Kone pulling one back on 82 minutes, they could not draw level and remain in the relegation zone.
"I'm frustrated and angry. It is a moment of the season where results are starting to be very important," said Martinez.
"We knew we were coming to a difficult place but the way we played the first half, I thought we stopped them from having any momentum.
"We were starting to get into a good position to get a positive result and actions in both boxes cost us.
"We need to make sure we don't rely on third parties - we don't rely on decisions to get positive results.
"We will learn from it. It is not good enough just to play well in the Premier League, whichever ground you are playing at.
"If we need to play extra well to get a positive result, that is what we have got to do."
Martinez was also angry Wigan were not awarded a penalty after Shaun Maloney went to ground following a challenge from Osman.
"Shaun Maloney is not a player that looks for penalties. He is someone who once he gets in that one-v-one situation you know how effective he can be," added the Spaniard.
"He goes past his defender easily and there is no need for him to go down but I think if you look at Leon Osman's reaction it tells you everything.
"If you see defending a one-v-one in the box and someone goes down, you go mad - and rightly so.
"Leon Osman just went away and showed a face of feeling that he got away with that incident. I don't really understand what the referee saw and I am getting a bit tired of talking about these moments."
Magpies goalkeeper Bartosz Bialkowski turned a Jon Taylor cross into his own net with nine minutes remaining to level the scores.
Luke Rodgers had earlier fired Shrewsbury ahead against one of his former clubs, before Lee Hughes and Jamal Campbell-Ryce turned the tables to edge the promotion-chasing visitors in front by half-time.
Curle, whose side are now unbeaten in 22 away matches, said: "I don't think Bart was really tested in the second half.
"The cross took a deflection and the ball's swirling. It could have gone anywhere but unfortunately it wrong-footed Bart.
"All he could do was get a hand on it and the only place he could steer it unfortunately was into his net rather than round the post."
County have dropped down to 10th place but promotion remains the target at the halfway stage of the season.
"Now is the time as a football club for us all to take stock and have a look where we are," added Curle.
"There's been a lot of commitment, a lot of dedication, a lot of hard work going on and you look at the games we've had and we could probably have done with another eight points.
"With another eight points we would be right in the mix."
