Preview: Shrewsbury Town v Fleetwood Town

5 March 2021

Fleetwood Town face Shrewsbury Town on Saturday 6 March at Montgomery Waters Meadow in Sky Bet League One, and we have all you need to know ahead of the 3pm kick-off in our match preview.

Fixture: Shrewsbury Town v Fleetwood Town

Competition: Sky Bet League One

Date: Saturday 6 March 2021

Kick-off: 15:00

Venue: Montgomery Waters Meadow, Oteley Road, Shrewsbury, SY2 6ST

Match officials: Michael Salisbury (Referee), Lee Venamore & Richard Wild (Assistant Referees), Steven Meredith (Fourth Official)

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FLEETWOOD TOWN

Town managed to come out 2-1 winners in their last outing on Tuesday night against Lincoln City, and they will want to add to that when they travel to Shrewsbury.

Ged Garner’s first-ever league goal opened the scoring on the night, and what a goal it was. He controlled the ball inside the opposition’s box and volleyed it home. Callum Camps also got on the score sheet in the second half and, even though Lincoln substitute Callum Morton got a goal, Town took the win in Lincolnshire.

In the game before that, Fleetwood drew 1-1 with Accrington Stanley at Highbury. Accrington opened the scoring 22 minutes into the game as Adam Phillips received the ball from a short free-kick and drilled the ball into the back of the net, before Fleetwood’s response just a minute later as Wes Burns beat his man and levelled it up.

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SHREWSBURY TOWN

The Shrews are in a similar situation as Fleetwood in terms of league position, as there are only two points separating the sides.

Last time out, Shrewsbury had late heartbreak in their home clash against AFC Wimbledon as The Wombles managed to grab a goal through Ayoub Assal late on, which cancelled out Harrison Chapman’s opener, and meant the points would have to be shared in Shropshire.

The Shrews had a long trip the game before that as they faced Bristol Rovers at the Memorial Stadium. The deadlock was broken right at the half-time break as Luke Leahy struck past Matija Sarkic. Brandon Hanlan added a second for The Gas and even though Daniel Udoh pulled one back, it was too late to forge a comeback.

ONE TO WATCH: AARON PIERRE

The one to watch is defender, Aaron Pierre. The 28-year-old has been ever-present in the Shrewsbury side this season and has even managed to score four goals in League One.

Pierre began his career at Brentford in 2012, after joining the side after a successful trial the year before. He didn’t have to wait long before seeing some first-team action in a defeat to Southend in the EFL Trophy. He spent most of his time there with the Development Squad and was the leading appearance-maker in the 2012/13 season.

In November 2013, the defender then went out on loan to Cambridge United and, after missing a few games through injury, he made his debut in their FA Trophy second round tie against St Albans City and he made an instant impact, smashing in a 25-yard shot to send them through to the next round of the competition.

The Grenada international then returned to Brentford and, soon after, went on to join Wycombe Wanderers on a short-term loan deal and signed for the club on a permanent basis the season after. 121 appearances in the league, and a further 19 appearances in other competitions, came in the next three seasons, showing that he was an ever-present in Gareth Ainsworth’s Chairboys.

The 28-year-old then made the move to Northampton Town in July 2017. He would go on to spend the next two years at Sixfields and not only did he make over 65 appearances, and score six goals, he also won the Player of the Season award for the 2018/19 season.

After winning that award, he went on to sign for Shrewsbury and since joining the club, he has made over 60 appearances and was named the club’s Player of the Year in June.

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WATCH TOWN ON iFOLLOW!

Supporters can now purchase video match passes for Fleetwood Town’s Sky Bet League One clash against Shrewsbury Town on Saturday.

With fans still unable to attend games, the iFollow match pass is your best option to watch the Cod Army play.

Simon Grayson's side are set to travel to the Montgomery Waters Meadow to face Shrewsbury Town on Saturday and you can watch the game for just £10!

If you'd like to purchase your match pass, click HERE.

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Match Previews

Match Reports

Report: Back-to-back away wins secured after Shrewsbury victory

6 March 2021

Fleetwood Town secured all three points and a clean sheet in their Sky Bet League One clash against Shrewsbury Town at Montgomery Waters Meadow.

Goals from Wes Burns and Kyle Vassell means Fleetwood travel back to Lancashire with maximum points in what was a comfortable win for Simon Grayson’s side in Shropshire.

Burns opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time and, halfway through the second period, Vassell doubled the lead leaving the hosts a mountain to climb which they couldn’t react and Fleetwood ride out winners.

It was a bright start from the Cod Army, indulging inpatient build-up play in the opening ten minutes as they pressed the hosts in their own half alongside keeping the ball nicely in possession but were yet to test Shrewsbury’s defensive area.

It was Shrewsbury who opened up the chances for the afternoon where the first full-chance fell kindly in the box for Josh Vela who looked to slot it past Alex Cairns from a few yards, but the Fleetwood goalkeeper was equal to the chance. Shrewsbury’s corner which followed was cleared quite a distance from Ged Garner.

Momentum followed the hosts as Curtis Main tried to find Shaun Whalley behind Town’s defensive lines but again it was quick reactions by Cairns to match the idea.

Just short of the 20-minute mark, Danny Andrew picks up a loose ball from 25 yards but strikes the ball just over the bar.

A few successive chances followed for the visitors but nothing really testing of Matija Sarkic in the Shrewsbury goal.

With half an hour played, an effort almost identical to his previous effort on goal, Andrew strikes the ball from a distance but this time it does test Sarkic between the sticks as he parried the effort away from goal.

With not long to go until half-time, the game started to open up as Main drives deep into Fleetwood’s half, but Callum Camps follows his run and makes an important sliding tackle to deny any attack.

A counterattack came from Shrewsbury as Shaun Whalley drives forward with the ball and struck his effort with good technique, but Cairns was equal to it.

Right on the half-way mark, the deadlock was broken, and it was in the Cod Army’s favour - Burns picking the ball up deep in his own half, leading the attack with the ball, then unchallenged he pulled the trigger 25-yards from goal and the strike nestled into the back of the net.

Five minutes into the second period and both sides experiencing an equal share of possession as they looked to get their own footholds on the game.

Harry Chapman’s ambitious free-kick from 30 yards out was the first time Cairns was tested in the second period but in the end, it was saved and smothered by Fleetwood’s number one- Cairns was fouled in the process but Fleetwood were given the free-kick and a chance to reset.

With twenty to go, Town’s lead was doubled thanks to an emphatic strike twelve yards out from Vassell - Garner was the first to react to Shrewsbury’s clearance as he brought the ball forward, plays it into the box to Vassell whose touch out his feet allowed him a yard of space to put his foot through the ball and it was sent into the back of the net.

Not long after Town’s second, with confidence in abundance, Garner tried a cheeky chip over Sarkic from the edge of the box, the ‘keeper was scrambling backwards but thankfully for the hosts, it went over the bar.

With a few chances from the hosts in the hope of a reaction, Shrewsbury fill the Cod Army’s box during set-pieces but nothing tests Cairns. The game then wound down at the end, as Fleetwood secured all three points.

Town XI: Cairns (GK), Andrew, Connolly (C), Burns (Holgate 90+2'), Camps, Rossiter, Vassell (Madden 77’), Batty (Finley 87’), Garner (Saunders 77’), Hill, Rydel (Donacien 77’).

Shrewsbury XI: Sarkic (GK), Williams, Whalley, Vela, Ogbeta, Main (Pyke 75’), Daniels (Goss 45’), Ebanks-Landell (C), Davis (Edwards 75’), Pennington (Walker 68’), Chapman (Udoh 75’)