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

Neither side are able to advance to the next stage of the competition, with Forest Green Rovers and Brighton & Hove Albion Under-21s already booking their spot in round two from Group A.

Match preview

Shrewsbury opened their EFL Trophy 2023-24 campaign with a 3-0 defeat at Forest Green Rovers on September 5, but they did manage to beat Brighton Under-21s on penalties last time out following a goalless draw.

A total of two points has left them in third position in Group A, and they cannot advance to the next stage, as both Forest Green Rovers and Brighton Under-21s have six points from their three games.

Shrewsbury are still present in the FA Cup, though, beating Colchester United 3-2 in the first round of the competition at the start of the month, and Notts County will be their opponents in round two.

Matt Taylor's side will also enter this match off the back of a 3-2 win over Reading in League One on Saturday, with the result leaving them in 16th position in the table on 20 points.

The Shrews were 12th in League One last season, so there is room for improvement, and their next match in the third tier of English football comes away to Blackpool next weekend.

Walsall, meanwhile, will enter this match off the back of a 1-0 home defeat to Harrogate Town in League Two on Saturday afternoon.

The Saddlers are also in the second round of the FA Cup, having beaten Sheppey United 4-1 in the first round earlier this month, but they have not won in the league for almost a month.

A total of 20 points from 17 matches has left them down in 17th position in the League Two table, and they will not be back in league action until November 25 against Forest Green Rovers.

Walsall had been due to take on Doncaster Rovers next weekend, but the match has been postponed, as Mat Sadler's side have seen Liam Gordon, Donervon Daniels and Brandon Comley handed international call-ups.

The Saddlers, as mentioned, also cannot advance in the EFL Trophy, with defeats to Brighton Under-21s and Forest Green Rovers - on penalties following a 1-1 draw - leaving them bottom of Group A on a single point.

Shrewsbury Town EFL Trophy form:

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Shrewsbury Town form (all competitions):

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Walsall EFL Trophy form:

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Walsall form (all competitions):

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Team News

Shrewsbury head coach Taylor will make wholesale changes to the side that took to the field for the first whistle against Reading in League One on Saturday afternoon.

The team that started the goalless draw with Brighton Under-21s in the competition last time out could again feature, with a number of squad players set to be given opportunities to impress.

Elliot Thorpe, Malvind Benning and Nohan Kenneh were unused substitutes in the team's last match, but the trio are set to feature in the starting XI here.

As for Walsall, head coach Sadler could potentially name the XI that started against Forest Green in the team's last game in the competition.

There are still expected to be some familiar names in the side, though, with the team not having a league match to worry about next weekend.

Douglas James-Taylor is likely to be given the nod down the middle, while Isaac Hutchinson should also be included in the XI on Tuesday night, but the three players handed international call-ups will not be involved.

Shrewsbury Town possible starting lineup:

Marosi; Feeney, Dunkley, Thorpe; Bennett, Finnigan, Kenneh, Benning; Bayliss; Phillips, Mata

Walsall possible starting lineup:

Smith; Foulkes, Williams, McEntee, Allen; Knowles, Griffiths, Stirk, Hutchinson; Tierney; James-Taylor

We say: Shrewsbury Town 2-2 Walsall

There is not much to play for on Tuesday night, but we are still expecting it to be an entertaining match, as both sides should be able to play with freedom. There is attacking talent in both teams, and we are predicting a 2-2 draw to take place in the cup contest.

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