Saturday will see Fleetwood Town take on Shrewsbury Town at Highbury Stadium, and with victories for either side in their last league fixture, it is set up nicely for the 3pm kick-off
Town come into this match against Shrewsbury on the back of a 4-0 win away at Doncaster Rovers, which saw Ched Evans, James Wallace, Ash Eastham and Ash Hunter get themselves on the score sheet at the Keepmoat.
Shrewsbury come to the Fylde Coast on the back of a 1-0 victory over Accrington Stanley, and a 6-0 victory over Tranmere in the Checkatrade Trophy. With confidence high, the Salops will want to come away from home for the first and pick up the first three points of the new campaign.
Town boss Joey Barton said…
“The madness of League One is that teams are very closely matched. If you get a level of performance which is consistent from your players, you will have a very successful season – something which we’ve been aiming for.
“For me, the most pleasing thing about the Doncaster result was the clinical nature in how we put a team away. Going from 1-0, to 2-0 is massive in all football game, to take control of the emotional state of play.
“We’ve shown that ruthless edge, but for me we need to show it more often. We’re learning and it’ll take time to get everything we want, but the lads have been first class to this point.
“It was nice to win, but it’s only three points. We have a very tough game on Saturday against a team who finished in the play-offs last year – they’ve changed their identity this year, and will be difficult to play against due to their style of play.”
Shrewsbury manager John Askey said…
“They have some good players. They had a good win against Doncaster, 4-0 away from home shows that they’re a decent side.
“It will be tough, and the conditions will be tough up there with the wind and it usually rains.
“We have just got to compete and hopefully we can keep doing what we have been doing and get results.
“The supporters who go up there will want to see us trying to play - which we will try and do. The main thing is that we come away with something.”
Last five results in Sky Bet League One (from the left):
Fleetwood Town: W D L L D (Currently 10th on 17 points)
Shrewsbury Town: W D D L W (Currently 16th on 12 points)
We’ve Met Before
The two sides have met each other nine times since 2015, with six of those coming in Sky Bet League One. Out of those fixtures, there have been two draws, two wins for Fleetwood, and two wins for the Salops.
Last season Shrewsbury took all six points against Uwe Rosler’s side with a late 1-0 win coming away from home, and a then a 2-1 victory at Highbury which saw Shaun Whalley and Nathan Thomas cancel out Paddy Madden’s equaliser in the second half.
Only four of Town’s start team from Saturday’s 4-0 victory over Doncaster Rovers started in that match, with Town looking stronger this time round, especially with results they have picked up in recent weeks.
One to Watch
Lee Angol is the one to watch as the striker already has three goals to his name. He started off his career in the Tottenham Hotspur Academy, before moving to Wycombe Wanderers in 2012.
With loan spells at Hendon, Maidenhead and Boreham Wood, the 24-year-old made a name for himself and got a move to Luton Town in two years later. He was sent out on loan to Boreham Wood, where he went on to be the Conference South top goal scorer with 25 goals in 39 appearances.
Peterborough United came knocking, and Angol signed for the Posh on a three-year contract in July 2015. He scored twice on his debut against Oldham Athletic, and went on to finish the season off with 15 goals. Now at Shrewsbury, he will be looking to add firepower into the Salop side, and help them replicate what they did last season, which is reaching the play-offs.
Betting Preview
Joey Barton’s side are favourites to pick up all three points this weekend with odds at 6/4.
John Askey’s side are priced at 15/8 to win away from home for the first time in the 2018/19 season. A draw between the two is priced at 21/10.
Last time out Paddy Madden scored against Shrewsbury Town at Highbury Stadium, and with four goals to his name already this campaign, the odds are 5/1 for the Irishman to open the scoring, or 2/1 for him to score at any time.
Ash Hunter has nine assists to his name after 12 league matches and three goals, with the latest being in the club’s 4-0 win last weekend at the Keepmoat Stadium.
For the 23-year-old to bag his fourth, the odds are 11/1 to be the first goal scorer, and 4/1 for any time.
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