Town travel to a Morecambe side who have struggled to win matches at home of late. The Shrimpers have drawn four home games on the trot and have lost their last three away matches.
Town will be looking to bounce back from their penalty defeat to Bury in the JPT on Tuesday night.
Morecambe`s new 6,500-capacity Globe Arena stadium will be officially opened by Jim McGuigan – father of chairman Peter – prior to Shrewsbury`s clash with the Shrimps.
Vital Quotes:
Sammy McIlroy has been talking to The Lancashire Evening Post: “We`ve got a tough game against Shrewsbury. They are flying high and are a good side.”
“We`ve drawn four and lost one at home and hopefully we can get our first win tomorrow.”
Morecambe Team News:
Morecambe boss Sammy McIlroy will assess the fitness of defensive duo Will Haining and Chris McCready ahead of the home clash with Shrewsbury.
The pair have been suffering with hamstring problems in recent weeks and could miss out again.
Yet McIlroy will be reluctant to make changes after his side ground out a 1-0 victory at Bradford last weekend.
Defender Paul Scott missed out through injury last weekend and will also be assessed but McIlroy is in optimistic mood following last weekend’s win at Valley Parade.
Player to watch: Stuart Drummond
Players who used to play for your side usually score against you. So, will Mr.Drummond do the business?
In fact, Drummond is the Shrimpers top scorer so far this season with three goals.
Shrewsbury Team News:
Shrewsbury will leave it as late as possible before checking on the fitness of Shane Cansdell-Sherriff and Craig Disley.
Defender Cansdell-Sherriff sustained a groin injury in training that forced him to miss Tuesday`s Johnstone`s Paint Trophy defeat at Bury while midfielder Disley picked up an ankle knock towards the end of the tie and was forced off.
Both have got a chance of making the clash but face a race against time to prove their fitness.
Boss Graham Turner is definitely boosted by the return to full fitness of midfield pair Sean McAllister (hamstring) and Benjamin Van den Broek, the latter of whom has not featured for almost a month since suffering ankle ligament damage.
Turner made five changes for the shoot-out defeat at Gigg Lane but he will revert to his strongest XI at the Globe Arena as Shrews look to end their four-match winless run.
Player to watch: Daniel O’Donnell
O’Donnell will be hoping his penalty miss on Tuesday night will not affect him too much.
Match Facts & Stats
In our past five meetings with The Shrimpers in Morecambe we have:
won 1
Lost 1
Drawn 2
Highest Aggregate 6 Morecambe 3 – 3 Shrewsbury Tn. 2003/2004
Ref Watch:
Foster, (David) – Tyne & Wear. Games this season: 5. Yellow Cards: 15. Red Cards: 0.
Match Prediction:
I think we need to win this one so that the momentum does not leave us completely. So, 2-1 away win.
Next Fixtures:
Managerless Lincoln make the trip to Shropshire next Saturday.
