PREVIEW: City in search of first league win on the road since October as they prepare to face Shrewsbury - The Coventry Observer

PREVIEW: City in search of first league win on the road since October as they prepare to face Shrewsbury

Coventry Editorial 4th Mar, 2017   0

COVENTRY City will be in search of their first League One win on the road since defeating Port Vale 2-0 on October 1 last year when facing Shrewsbury Town this afternoon.

The Sky Blues will be aiming to avoid three defeats in just eight days after losing out to Swindon Town last weekend before a one-goal mid-week loss at Bury.

Both results have left the Sky Blues further from safety than ever at any point this season – now 14 points behind 20th placed Oldham Athletic.

Teams slightly above the Sky Blues in the league table including Northampton Town, Bury, Oldham Athletic and Swindon Town have all picked up at least two wins in their last five fixtures, making Slade’s task tougher than ever.




Today’s opposition are set to provide another tough task for Slade’s men.

Shrewsbury – who themselves are just five points clear of the drop zone – have claimed 16 points from their last eight fixtures, winning five, drawing one and losing two.


Paul Hurst’s side have only lost two games since the turn of the new year and have proven themselves a capable side in English football’s third tier since the turn of the year.

The club brought in winger Alex Rodman, Crystal Palace striker Freddie Ladapo, Baggies youngster Tyler Roberts and Nottingham Forest’s Ryan Yates during the January transfer window.

Town have scored 39 goals from their 35 league appearances so far this season, though four of those goals featured in the club’s last fixture – a 4-3 thriller – against Charlton Athletic on Tuesday night.

Striker Louis Dodds has proved the biggest threat up front for Town this season, scoring seven league goals from 30 appearances.

The 30-year-old bagged two game-winning goals on Tuesday night with support from Tyler Roberts and Shaun Whalley.

One stat Russell Slade may look to use to his advantage is Shrewsbury conceding an average of 1.29 goals per game – above the league’s average.

Slade will be looking at the likes of Stuart Beavon, Charles Vernam, Kwame Thomas and George Thomas to step up.

Coverage of today’s game will feature on our live blog from 2.30pm with updates on Twitter, @covobservernews

Support community journalism by making a contribution.

The Coventry Observer's team of journalists provide a trusted source news, sport, entertainment and events going on in your area and issues which matter to you - both via our free weekly print edition and daily updates on our website.

Every contribution, however big or small, you can make will help us continue to do that now and in the future.

Thanks for reading this and the Coventry Observer.

Are you on Facebook?

Like or follow our Facebook page - facebook.com/CovObserver to get daily news updates straight to your news feed.

Reader Travel

Check out all of the latest reader travel offers to get your hands on some free gifts.

Online Editions

Catch up on your local news by reading our e-editions on the Coventry Observer.

Printing

We can provide all of your printing needs at competitive rates.

Announcements

Weddings, Birthdays, Bereavements, Thank you notices, Marriages and more.