Shrewsbury V Burton Albion preview

By 3pm tomorrow both sets of fans at the Prostar stadium will effectively be entering the unknown. Burton Albion will be hoping to take their league debut by the scruff of the neck and prove they will not become the League 2 whipping boys this year.

Whereas Shrewsbury Town will be willing their new look side to gel quickly and provide a much needed three points. You may think it is too early to describe the win as much needed, but the nervy atmosphere that has surrounded the club in preseason needs to be surpassed by optimism and the belief that Paul Simpson`s side can move on from last season`s disappointments and summer departures.

It is very important for Town to get off to a good start at home and make the Prostar a fortress for the season ahead. Hopefully the away form of last year can be eradicated when we travel to Barnet next week. But for now let`s take a look at the match with the new boys.

Paul Peschisolido is the man in charge at The Pirelli Stadium nowadays but it was a decade of hard work from ex-Liverpool man Nigel Clough that built the foundations for the clubs success. However, after Clough`s departure to Derby last year the side struggled to maintain their terrific form under Roy McFarland, who left at the end of last season; Peschilsolido is unproven at this level and this could bode well for the Shrews tomorrow. The Canadian played for 15 years and totted up 520 appearances and 137 goals. The diminutive husband of Birmingham City`s Karen Brady assisted Jeff Kenna at League of Ireland Club St. Patrick`s Athletic from January 2009 until leaving for personal reasons in May, only to be appointed as McFarland`s successor later that month.

Peschisolido has brought in ex-Town destroyer/striker Richard Walker to add to Albion`s strike-force as well as ex-Derby man Paul Boertien at the back. Experience seems to count for Burton but Town will be hoping their youngsters start the season on fire. Full back Aaron Webster will be missing for the Brewers as he struggles with a calf injury.

The left midfield area for Shrewsbury is problematic as new signing Lewis Neal picked up an injury in preseason and Steve Leslie remains suspended after his dubious dismissal at Bury in the playoffs. Michael Jackson continues to be sidelined after further complications in his long-term recovery from injury and Nathan Elder has experienced limited football since his facial injury that left him temporarily blind last season. However it is likely that New Zealand international Kris Bright and the ex-Brentford frontman will form a new striking partnership for Paul Simpson.

So, the first meeting of these two in the league is sure to whet the appetites of both sets of fans for the season ahead but which way the result will go is difficult to predict. Being at home Town should nick a 2-1 win with Bright netting both on the way to a 25 goal season.