SHREWSBURY v LUTON – Pick: 1 AH0 – 30 August 2014

Shrews to avoid defeat to Hatters

League One/Two Tips

Football – England – League Two

Saturday 30th August 2014 – Kickoff: 1500hrs

Shrewsbury Town maintained their impressive start to the new season on Tuesday night when they claimed a Premier League scalp by beating Leicester City at the King Power Stadium 1-0 in the second round of the Capital One Cup.

The injection of finances at the Greenhous Stadium has certainly paid dividends so far with the installation of manager Micky Mellon and numerous summer signings including those of strikers Mangan (Forest Green Rovers) and Collins (Hibernian) who have both scored 3 goals apiece so far.

The Shrews go into this afternoon’s clash with Luton Town on the back of an unbeaten four match run in League Two which includes wins over Tranmere Rovers 2-1 and Accrington Stanley 4-0 (both on home turf) along with points on the road at AFC Wimbledon and an improving Northampton Town.

As well as Mangan and Collins up front, Shrewsbury possess a strong midfield consisting of Lawrence, Knight-Percival and Wesolowski although they’ll have to do without Lawrence for this one following his red card at Northampton.

 

Visitors Luton Town have made a more modest start in their return to the football league as they fins their feet again at this level. Mixed results so far for the side that finally gained promotion from the Conference Premier after so many false new dawns, and an away win at Carlisle United has been their highlight so far.

A home defeat to AFC Wimbledon 0-1 along with back-to-back stalemates with Bury 1-1 at home and Accrington Stanley 2-2 away last Saturday means that John Still’s team go into this afternoon’s clash at Shrewsbury without a win in their last three matches in League Two.

 

I do feel that the bookies are over-estimating Luton Town’s prowess at this level in these early stages of the season, but with the loss of key midfielder Lawrence for Shrewsbury which will be a big loss for the hosts, I recommend backing Shrewsbury with just the round ball here instead. If Lawrence was available I’d probably go with the straight win – Shrewsbury may nick this perhaps 1-0 but I can’t completely rule out the possibility of the draw either.

Pick: Shrewsbury Town AH0 @ 1.63 Bet Victor