Shrewsbury Town and Cambridge United square off on Saturday afternoon with both clubs aware that they can ill-afford defeat if they want to retain a glimmer of hope of survival in the third tier.
These two sides sit in 24th and 23rd position in the League One table, the latter as many as 10 points adrift of 20th place.
Match preview
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While the writing has been on the wall at Shrewsbury for some time, seeing their manager leave for a League Two club at the same time as a failed takeover has left their supporters feeling despondent.
A 4-1 reverse at the hands of Birmingham City last weekend did not help matters, yet fans were given something to cheer at fellow promotion contenders Wycombe Wanderers three days later.
Despite having their backs to the wall at Adams Park, Michael Appleton‘s team came away with a morale-boosting goalless draw, just the second clean sheet that they have kept in 2025.
In the grand scheme of things, though, it has not helped the Shrews’ cause as they remain as many as 13 points adrift of safety with only seven games remaining.
With just three points being accumulated from their last 10 games, Appleton’s job in the short term is to end the season in a positive manner ahead of a League Two title push.
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Cambridge face joining Shrewsbury in the fourth tier after the resurgence under Neil Harris upon his return proved to be a false dawn.
A run of seven matches without success has been put together to leave Cambridge 10 points behind 20th spot, as well as having played a game more than some of the teams around them.
That said, Harris can be pleased with his team’s performances of late, three successive draws being earned against Barnsley, Northampton Town and Wrexham.
Although they have gone three matches unbeaten for the first time since November, Cambridge must push for all three points here as they bid to win just their third away league fixture of the campaign at the 21st attempt.
Team News
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Jordan Shipley is in line to come into the Shrewsbury XI as a replacement for Vadaine Oliver, who lasted just 17 minutes against Wycombe.
Barring any further fitness issues, the remainder of the team could stay the same as Appleton looks to extend their impressive defensive rearguard from the last game into a second match.
With Harris only making two substitutions in seeing out a draw against Wrexham, that would suggest that an unchanged starting lineup is a possibility here.
Scott Malone and Elias Kachunga – the two replacements on that occasion – appear to be at the front of the queue for a recall at wing-back and in attack respectively.
Shrewsbury Town possible starting lineup:
Blackman; M.Feeney, Pierre, J.Feeney; Wheeler, Gilliead, Ojo, Benning; Shipley; Marquis, Lloyd
Cambridge United possible starting lineup:
Bishop; Gibbons, Morrison, Watts; Bennett, Digby, Stevenson, Brophy; Stokes; Ballard, Loft
We say: Shrewsbury Town 1-1 Cambridge United
On the back of draws in midweek, each side have something to build upon here. However, we feel that both teams will cancel each other out and produce a stalemate that suits neither club.
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