Preview: Shrewsbury Town vs. Blackpool - prediction, team news, lineups

The visitors are currently ninth in the League One table, six points off the playoffs, while Shrewsbury occupy 18th, only five points ahead of the relegation zone.

Match preview

Shrewsbury finished 12th in League One last season, but they are in relegation trouble this term, currently sitting 18th in the table, just five points ahead of 21st-placed Cheltenham Town.

The Shrews have only managed to win once in England's third tier since the end of January, which proved to be a 3-2 success over Reading in their last away match on February 24.

Paul Hurst's side will enter this match off the back of a disappointing result, though, having gone down 3-0 to Lincoln City on Tuesday, which proved to be their 19th league defeat of the campaign.

Only basement side Carlisle United (21) have lost more League One matches than Shrewsbury this season, but a total of 11 wins has kept them outside of the relegation zone for now.

The Shropshire outfit have picked up 23 points from their 17 home league games this season, recording seven wins in the process, and they will be welcoming a Blackpool outfit that have only managed to claim maximum points in four of their 17 League One games on their travels in 2023-24.

Blackpool are fighting for an immediate return to the Championship, having been relegated from England's second tier in 23rd position last season.

The Seasiders have had their problems this term, but they are in the playoff mix entering the final straight, picking up 53 points from 35 matches, which has left them in ninth position.

Neil Critchley's side are just six points behind sixth-placed Stevenage, but they suffered a setback on Tuesday evening, going down 1-0 to Orient, with that result following successive wins over Peterborough United and Bolton Wanderers.

Blackpool have the best home record in the division this season, picking up 37 points from 18 matches, but as mentioned, it has been a different story away from home, and their form on the road will need to improve if they are to finish inside the playoff positions.

The Seasiders have only actually won one of their last 14 matches against Shrewsbury, which proved to be a 4-0 success when the two sides locked horns for the reverse game earlier this season.

Shrewsbury Town League One form:

L

D

D

L

W

L

Blackpool League One form:

L

D

L

W

W

L

Blackpool form (all competitions):

D

L

W

L

W

L

Team News

Shrewsbury will be missing Aaron Pierre for the remainder of the campaign, with the club currently assessing whether the defender needs to undergo an operation on a groin injury.

A late decision will need to be made on Marko Marosi, who has "some swelling around a nerve", according to head coach Hurst, while Tom Flanagan is again set to miss out.

Dan Udoh and Mal Benning should be available, but George Nurse remains a long-term absentee for Shrewsbury, with the defender unlikely to play again this season.

As for Blackpool, Andrew Lyons was substituted shortly after entering the field against Orient last time out, and the defender is expected to miss this match through injury.

Jordan Rhodes was again missing on Tuesday due to a rib injury, and the forward, who has scored 15 league goals this season, will need to be assessed before a decision is made on his involvement.

Shayne Lavery and Hayden Coulson were also absent against Orient, and the pair will need to undergo late fitness tests ahead of the trip to Shrewsbury on Saturday.

Shrewsbury Town possible starting lineup:

Burgoyne; Winchester, Feeney, Dunkley, Benning; Bennett, Kenneh; Bloxham, Bayliss, Shipley; Udoh

Blackpool possible starting lineup:

Grimshaw; Pennington, Ekpiteta, Connolly; Lawrence-Gabriel, Dembele, Byers, Norburn, Hamilton; Beesley, Joseph

We say: Shrewsbury Town 1-1 Blackpool

Both teams are set to be missing some important players for this match, and it is a contest that could go either way, with all three scores more than possible. Blackpool's away form this season has been disappointing, so we are struggling to back them and have ultimately settled on a low-scoring draw.

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