By Jordan Rushworth
Unbeaten League One leaders Shrewsbury host 9th placed Fleetwood Town. Paul Hurst’s side are the divisions surprise package so far, having picked up 34 points from their opening 14 games.
Shrewsbury’s unbeaten start to the season is even more remarkable considering they were fighting against relegation for most last season. When Hurst, former Grimsby Town manager was appointed last October, The Shrews were rock bottom of League 1. The former Rotherham United defensemen managed to turn around their fortunes, propelling his side to hold onto an 18th placed finish.
Fleetwood have also made a solid start to the season, while bouncing back from losing in the play-off semi-finals to Bradford last campaign. Uwe Rosler’s side have taken 21 points from their opening 14 games, leaving them just a point of the play-off paces.
Both sides come into the fixture on the back of positive results in midweek. Fleetwood’s 1-1 draw at fellow play-off chasers Scunthorpe, extended their unbeaten run to four matches. While Shrewsbury claimed their biggest win of the season, beating Bristol Rovers 4-0 at New Meadow.
This week's effort comes from @shrewsweb's Junior Brown, who rounded off a superb first-half display with the fourth goal on Tuesday night! pic.twitter.com/LtS14rXRfp
— E F L (@EFL) October 19, 2017
Fleetwood beat Shrewsbury home and away in the league last season, on their run to the play-offs. Speaking to Shrewsbury’s official website, Hurst expects Fleetwood to be right amongst the promotion chasers again this season: “A lot of the same players are there and why not when they only missed out in the play-offs? It was a fantastic season from them last year and they will be looking to replicate that again.”
Rosler, speaking to Fleetwood’s official website, challenged his side to end The Shrews unbeaten start to the season: “When they are on a run like this they are gaining confidence and the day-to-day work gets much easier. Hopefully we will be the one to give them their first defeat.”