Football – England – League Two
Saturday 24th January 2015 – Kickoff: 1500hrs
Shrewsbury Town recorded a comfortable 3-0 home win over bottom club Hartlepool United last weekend, and they’ll be looking for more of the same when they entertain Stevenage at their Greenhous Stadium this afternoon as the hosts look to close the gap on Wycombe Wanderers and Burton Albion.
The Shrews have lost just once in their last eight matches in League Two where they’ve racked up some impressive wins of note such as Burton Albion and Morecambe as well as holding Wycombe and Luton Town to points in 0-0 draws.
Shrewsbury have an impressive record at the Greenhous which reads 11-2-0 26/3 and they are now the only side in the division to remain unbeaten thus far this season. Shrewsbury’s success on home turf has undoubtedly been due to their rock-solid defence which has kept a total of no fewer than ten clean sheets, and shut-outs in their last five on the trot.
Stevenage currently sit in seventh place which is the last remaining play-off spot ahead of today’s clash with Shrewsbury Town thanks to a great run of form which has seen them achieve five wins from their last six league matches.
Recent wins against Exeter City, Dagenham, Cambridge United, AFC Wimbledon and York City are all well and good, but they’ll face the real litmus test this afternoon against high-flying Shrewsbury where their play-off ambitions will be thoroughly examined.
Stevenage’s away form reads a modest 3-4-6 13/18 and they’ve won just twice in their last ten on the road (against teams in the nether regions of the division I might add). It’s worth mentioning here that they’ve previously lost at the likes of Southend United, Bury and Newport County who are all below Shrewsbury in League Two.
Shrewsbury need to continue winning to keep pace with the top two, and despite Stevenage’s recent run of form, I reckon The Shrews will have too much for their visitors up front while their defence hasn’t been breached in their last five at home. Shrewsbury have also won seven of their last eight on home turf. Could be a 1-0 win for the hosts.
Pick: Shrewsbury Town straight win @ 1.73 Coral
