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The New Meadow
The New Meadow

Preview: Shrewsbury v Grimsby

By: Alex Green
Date: 30/08/2007

GRIMSBY travel to the New Meadow for the first ever time hoping to win their first game of the season after three successive 1-1 draws.

Home > 2007-2008 Season > Previews > Shrewsbury (a)


The Opposition

Overview

Last season's play-off final defeat against Bristol Rovers seems not to have taken too much out of the Shrews. With a successful start to the season thumping Lincoln 4-0 on the opening day and only narrowly losing to Fulham on Tuesday night in the second round of the Carling Cup, the confidence from last season seems to has followed in to the latest campaign. Only a point behind the early league leaders Chester and Darlington, Gary Peters once manager of Preston has assembled a squad which has made the first season at the New Meadow an entertaining one so far. With wins at home against Bradford, Championship side Colchester and only a defeat against Fulham the new ground which has replaced Gay Meadow is already proving to be somewhat of a fortress for the Shrews. Only a 3-0 defeat to Franchise FC has put a seed of doubt into Shrewsbury fans.

Team
Peters has rung in the changes during pre-season with only 4 players surviving to face Lincoln on the opening day from the team which had taken to the Wembley turf only three months before. Colin Murdock (left), Stuart Nicholson (WBA) and Jimmy Ryan (Liverpool) have all come in to bolster the squad while the Shrews boss has also been able to let striker Fola Onibuje go after disappointing since his arrival in the summer while Derek Asamoah has made a £50,000 move to Nice. Up front Shrewsbury seem to have found the elusive strike force which Buckley has been searching for, Hibbert and Cooke have struck up a fearsome strike force with a combined total of four over two league games making an impressive goal ratio even with Cooke now been sidelined with a hamstring for three months. As such Peters has been experimenting with a strike partner for Hibbert with both Nicholson and Symes been used giving something for Buckley to consider on Saturday.

Key Player
Kelvin Langmead the 22-year-old has spent most of his young career finding his feet in the lower leagues before signing with Shrewsbury last season. The youngster once of Preston has impressed AT Shrewsbury with his tireless work rate and constant running. Describe back in Preston as a battering ram Kelvin won much praise for his performance against Lincoln on the opening day and been consistent ever since for the Shrews. His link up play with the forwards has been a key to Shrewsbury’s success of late with a talent for picking the right pass at the right time. Oh and he looks a little like Paul Scholes if you squint your eyes.

Recent Form

TownShrewsbury
DMacclesfield(h)1-1
DBury(a)1-1
LBurnley (CC)(h)1-1
(2-4p)
DNotts Co(h)1-1
Currently 18th in League Two.
LFulham (CC)(h)0-1
LMK Dons(h)0-1
WBradford(h)3-3
WColchester (CC)(h)2-1
WLincoln(a)0-2
Currently 3rd in League Two.

Team News

TownShrewsbury

  • Justin Whittle is facing a race against time to be fit after going over on his ankle in Thursday's training session. If the club captain does not make it Ryan Bennett will take his place in the centre allowing new signing Dave Mulligan to play at right back.

  • Buckley has several options to choose from including the shape of his formation whether 4-5-1 or 4-4-2.

  • Bolland may also be out with a slight strain picked up in training.
  • Andy Cooke is out for three months after picking up a hamstring injury against Colchester in the first round of the Carling Cup.

  • Fola Onibuje has not been offered a contract after Tuesday and won’t be available for the match.
  • Probable Teams

    TownShrewsbury
    1Barnes
    TBAMulligan
    5Bennett
    5Fenton
    3Newey
    7Till
    8Bolland
    11Boshell
    10Toner
    12Rankin
    9North
    1Garner
    2Moss
    23Tierney
    TBAMurdock
    12Herd
    16Hall
    8Langsmead
    7Pugh
    4Drummond
    9Hibbert
    10Nicholson

    Subs

    TownShrewsbury
    13Montgomery
    2Clarke
    18Hunt
    18Bore
    19Jones
    21MacKenzie
    18Leslie
    5Kempson
    TBARyan
    17Humphreys

    Head to Head

    Town have a respectable record against the Shrews over the years but recent fixtures between the pair have tended to be draws.

    P 48 W 22 D 11 L 15 F 73 A 65

    Shrewsbury Head-to-Head (21st on The Opposition Ladder)

    Last Meeting

    Town went ahead in the final league game at Gay Meadow thanks to a goal by Andy Taylor. However two second half goals from Shrewsbury looked to have won the match for the Shrews until an injury time equaliser from Fenton condemned Shrewsbury to face MK Dons in the play-offs.

     Report

    Prediction

    I’ll take a risk and go for 1-1 it seems just comfortable and familiar like an old pair of trainers.

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