Looking for a change in fortunes following a managerial alteration, Shrewsbury Town will welcome title favourites Birmingham City to The Croud Meadow for a League One match on Saturday afternoon.
The Shrews are fighting hard to prevent relegation to the fourth tier of English football, whilst Blues are on a mission to gain automatic promotion to the Championship at the first time of asking.
Match preview
© Imago
Following four straight defeats across League One and the FA Cup in October and November, Shrewsbury Town opted to relieve Paul Hurst of his duties at The Croud Meadow, with the Shropshire-based club looking set for a return to League Two for the first time since the 2014-15 term.
That being said, the Shrews have managed to lure a high-profile name to the managerial hotseat in the form of Gareth Ainsworth, who will take charge of his first game on Saturday afternoon, when a Birmingham side hotly tipped for automatic promotion will make the trip across the Midlands.
Losing each of their last four third-tier fixtures, Shrewsbury are currently occupying bottom spot in the League One standings ahead of this weekend's Shropshire battle, level on points with 23rd-placed Burton Albion and a worrying six points behind Leyton Orient in 20th.
The Shrews will be looking to end a four-game losing streak at The Croud Meadow on Saturday afternoon, with Ainsworth inheriting a squad who have been defeated without a fight in that quartet of fixtures, losing by an aggregate scoreline of 10-0 across League One and the EFL Cup.
Hoping to avoid back-to-back third-tier relegations, 24-year-old George Lloyd made the switch from Cheltenham Town over the summer on a free transfer, with the striker leading his side's Golden Boot race with three strikes across his first 15 League One appearance of the term.
© Imago
Prior to the final international break of the calendar year, Birmingham's anticipated canter to the League One crown experienced some bumps in the road, with Saturday's visitors to The Croud Meadow being forced to share the spoils with both Mansfield Town and Northampton Town.
The Cobblers were the latest stubborn visitors to St Andrew's @ Knighthead Park on November 9, when a fifth goal of the third-tier term for £20m man Jay Stansfield fired Blues ahead, before a serious lapse in defensive concentration allowed Mitchell Pinnock to drive home an added-time equaliser for Jon Brady's troops.
Owing to Wycombe Wanderers' marvellous 12-game unbeaten run in the division, title favourites Birmingham are sitting second in the League One standings as the busy festive period approaches, two points behind the Chairboys and two ahead of third-placed Wrexham, although Chris Davies's men have games in hand on both.
Conceding just six goals across six away outings in the third tier so far, Blues possess the strongest defensive record on the road alongside League Two champions Stockport County and playoff-chasing Exeter City, but the Second City club have managed just the single clean sheet.
Birmingham have already visited Shrewsbury twice this season, with goals from Lukas Jutkiewicz and Jordan James securing a comfortable 2-0 friendly victory during pre-season, before a second-string Blues side dismantled the Shrews in the EFL Trophy last month, when a Scott Wright brace was the headline from the night.
Team News
© Imago
Shrewsbury are preparing to be without the services of Morgan Feeney, who has been struggling over the course of the international break with an ankle injury.
The hosts will also be unable to call upon the talents of Josh Kayode, with the striker failing to feature for the Shrews since August due to a calf issue.
After missing the matchday squad against Northampton due to illness, Ben Davies should return to the fold on Saturday, meaning that Dion Sanderson could be dropped from Birmingham's travelling party.
Luke Harris was forced to withdraw from Wales duty because of illness, increasing the likelihood that Alfie May continues behind Stansfield in the Blues attack.
A fringe player in League One for Birmingham so far, Alfons Sampsted hobbled off with an ankle injury during Iceland's clash with Wales earlier this week, meaning that the right-back is a doubt for the trip to The Croud Meadow.
Shrewsbury Town possible starting lineup:
Savin; Nurse, Pierre, J Feeney, Benning; Winchester, Gilliead, Rossiter, Castledine; Marquis, Lloyd
Birmingham City possible starting lineup:
Allsopp; Laird, Klarer, Bielik, Cochrane; Paik, Iwata; Anderson, Willumsson, Yokoyama; Stansfield
We say: Shrewsbury Town 0-3 Birmingham City
Under the influence of new manager Ainsworth, Shrewsbury should be raring to put up a fight on Saturday despite a disrupted week of training due to wintry conditions in Shropshire.
Birmingham are overwhelming favourites heading into this clash and should have more than enough quality on the pitch and in reserve to earn a comfortable victory.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Carter White
