Two relegation-threatened sides will face off when Shrewsbury Town will welcome Burton Albion to New Meadow for Saturday’s League One contest.
The hosts are languishing at the bottom of the League One table with just 28 points to their name, while the Brewers are only five points better off in 21st position.
Match preview
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Shrewsbury appear destined to drop down to League Two after winning seven, drawing seven and losing 22 of their 36 matches.
As a result of that poor record, the Shrews will have to overcome an 11-point gap to safety in their final 10 matches if they are to preserve their 10-season stay in the third tier.
Gareth Ainsworth‘s side have taken just two points from seven matches since claiming their most recent win in an away game against Rotherham United on February 8.
They have also failed to score in four of their previous five matches, including Saturday’s 2-0 away defeat against Exeter City, representing the 16th time they have drawn a blank in League One this season – more than any other team in the division.
Saturday’s hosts may at least draw some inspiration from the fact they have won their last two home games against Burton, including a 2-1 victory in their most recent meeting at New Meadow in September 2023.
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Burton may be sitting three places above Shrewsbury, but they still have significant work to do if they are to extend their seven-year stay in League One.
The Brewers are five points adrift from safety after winning seven, drawing 12 and losing 17 of their 36 league matches this season.
Gary Bowyer‘s side are still searching for their first win this month after following a draw against Mansfield Town with back-to-back defeats against Wycombe Wanderers and Bolton Wanderers.
Ryan Sweeney netted a 53rd-minute equaliser to cancel out Bolton’s opener in Saturday’s clash, but Josh Sheehan’s effort on the hour mark proved enough to bring an end to Burton’s four-game unbeaten home run (W2, D2).
Burton will be desperate to produce a positive response in Saturday’s crucial fixture, with the visitors targeting a league double after recording a 2-0 win in November’s reverse fixture.
Team News
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Shrewsbury are unable to call upon Chelsea loanee Leo Castledine, who has been out of action since January due to injury.
Forward John Marquis will serve the final game of a three-match suspension after being sent off in just 13 seconds of a 3-1 defeat to Peterborough United earlier this month.
Funso Ojo and Tyler Perry could be considered for recalls after dropping down to the bench for last Saturday’s clash against Exeter.
Meanwhile, the Brewers are having to cope without the services of Nick Akoto, Geraldo Bajrami, James Jones, and Ciaran Gilligan.
Jason Sraha and Jon Dadi Bodvarsson are both making progress in their respective recoveries, but the pair are unlikely to be ready for Saturday’s away trip.
Terence Vancooten will retain his place in the backline after returning to the starting lineup last weekend following a three-match suspension
Shrewsbury Town possible starting lineup:
Blackman; M. Feeney, J. Feeney, Nurse; Hoole, Ojo, Gape, Benning; Perry; Oliver, Lloyd
Burton Albion possible starting lineup:
Crocombe; Vancooten, Sweeney, Armer; Godwin-Malife, Lofthouse, Webster, Dodgson; McKiernan; Bennett, Burrell
We say: Shrewsbury Town 0-1 Burton Albion
Both teams may be languishing in the relegation zone, but Burton can at least take confidence from the fact they have won two of their last three away matches, and we think they may conjure up another away win to boost their survival hopes and send Shrewsbury closer to the drop.
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