Shrewsburyvs.Blackpool

The hosts are sitting in 16th place in the League One table, while the visitors are languishing in the relegation zone.

Match preview

Gareth Ainsworth is preparing for his second match as Shrewsbury boss after replacing Paul Hurst in the dugout last month.

Hurst was relieved of his managerial duties following a 2-1 defeat to League Two Salford City in the first round of the FA Cup.

The club hierarchy ultimately felt that the time was right for a change of manager after Hurst oversaw two wins, two draws and 12 defeats in Shrewsbury's opening 16 league games this season.

Ainsworth made an immediate impact at Greenhous Meadow, guiding his new team to a 3-2 victory over promotion-chasing Birmingham City thanks to goals from Aaron Pierre, John Marquis and Tom Bloxham.

While he made a positive start, Ainsworth still has a massive job on his hands, with Shrewsbury sitting five points adrift of safety ahead of Wednesday's fixture.

The Shrews will be targeting a strong defensive display, having conceded two goals or more in seven of their last eight league matches.

Blackpool will be disappointed to be sitting in 16th position after struggling to find consistency in League One this season.

The Tangerines have won five, drawn five and lost seven of their 17 league matches, leaving them five points above the drop zone and seven points adrift of the top six.

Blackpool endured an eight-game winless league run before they finally returned to winning ways with a 2-0 win in their away clash against Bristol Rovers, courtesy of a Bryan Bilongo own goal and a Lee Evans penalty.

Unfortunately for Blackpool, they were unable to build upon that result in Saturday's FA Cup tie against Birmingham, with Jordan Rhodes's 55th-minute effort proving fruitless in a 2-1 defeat at Bloomfield Road.

After suffering a second-round exit, Blackpool will now turn their focus back to Wednesday's league fixture clash with Shrewsbury, as they go in search of a third successive head-to-head victory after completing a league double over the Shrews last term.

The visitors may need to strike first if they are to take something from the away trip, having lost all four away league games where they have conceded first this season.

Shrewsbury Town League One form:

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W

Shrewsbury Town form (all competitions):

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Blackpool League One form:

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D

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Blackpool form (all competitions):

L

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Team News

Shrewsbury are expected to be without the services of Joshua Kayode and Morgan Feeney due to calf and ankle injuries respectively.

If there are no fresh injury concerns, Ainsworth may decide to select the same lineup that started the win over Birmingham.

Marquis will offer one of Shrewsbury's main goal threats, having scored two goals in his last three competitive appearances.

As for the visitors, they are unable to call upon Hayden Coulson, Elkan Baggott, Andy Lyons, CJ Hamilton and Jake Beesley.

Odel Offiah and Rhodes are both doubts after the pair were forced off in Saturday's FA Cup defeat to Birmingham.

Defender Olly Casey and midfielder Oliver Norburn will serve one-match bans for an accumulation of yellow cards.

Shrewsbury Town possible starting lineup:

Savin; Hoole, Nsiala, Pierre, Benning; Winchester, Perry, Gilliead; Castledine; Bloxham, Marquis

Blackpool possible starting lineup:

Tyrer; Lawrence-Gabriel, Pennington, Husband, Thompson; Apter, Evans, Onomah, Embleton; Joseph, Ballard

We say: Shrewsbury Town 2-1 Blackpool

Shrewsbury may be languishing in the drop zone, but they will have renewed belief after getting the better of Birmingham, and we think that they will produce another strong performance at Greenhous Meadow to claim a narrow victory on Wednesday.

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