MATCHWATCH : Shrewsbury Town (a)

[Sutekh]

When : Saturday April 8 2025, 7.45pm
Where : New Meadow, Oteley Road, Shrewsbury, SY2 6ST
Capacity : 9,875

Back on the road again and Reading really do need to capitalise on Saturday’s 3 points by turning the screw further on Shrewsbury’s dismal season. However, with a pretty awful away record (21st now in the away form table after the cr@p Blackpool showing last week) and defeat at a relegation haunted Burton, and 2 points chucked away at Crawley from other bottom 4 visits, you can see why expectation and belief may not be abounding very easily amongst those connected with the club.

It’s been 11 games since Shrewsbury turned up at the SCL and claimed a point, since then the best they’ve managed is 2 more draws so form is really poor, however they have beaten both Brum and Wrexham at home this season so don’t think Reading will have it easy for a moment.

The Shrewsbury forward line is their strongest part, George Lloyd, John Marquis and Tom Bloxham (17 goals between them) have given a decent return for a side struggling at the foot of the table though the biggest threat maybe the new manager bounce of Michael Appleton, who only took over following Gareth Ainsworth’s departure a week or so ago.

Elliott and Dorsett are closest to returning from the treatment room but still think Noel will just select a slightly tweaked side from the XI that started v Wycombe. But, whatever side starts, I hope he sends them out fired up and taking the game to the Shrews from the start rather than the slow paced approach like we got on Saturday.

Bolton have a home game v Rotherham at the same time, so doing better than the Trotters on the night will send Reading back into the play off positions ready for the Northampton trip on Saturday. However, screw up and Huddersfield (home v Wycombe) and Orient (away at Mansfield) will both make Reading’s possible end of season miracle that much harder.

Referee

Darren Drysdale

Previously

23 Jan 2024 > Reading 1-0 Derby County
04 Sep 2023 > Cambridge United 1-0 Reading
19 Mar 2016 > Reading 1-1 Cardiff City
11 Aug 2015 > Colchester United 0-1 Reading (League Cup)
06 Apr 2012 > Reading 2-0 Leeds United
30 Apr 2006 > Reading 2-1 Queen's Park Rangers

Historically

The last meeting in Shrewsbury was that 3-2 defeat for Reading back in November 2023, one of 27 seasons so far shared between the clubs. Reading have won just 5 league games at Shrewsbury and have lost 15 so the fixture would seem to be a bit of a graveyard for the biscuitmen currently.

How to follow the game

1. Get a ticket and travel
2. Now app/Sky red button
3. Listen to Radio 5 Live and/or a myriad of other radio stations for score flashes
4. Ring/text a mate for updates
5. Use a RoyalsTV subscription
6. BBC Radio Berkshire (FM : 104.4, 104.1 or 95.4 depending where you are in the area)

[WestYorksRoyal]

The run in starts here. Only 2 home games out of 6, but 4 away games of Shrewsbury, Northampton, Mansfield and Bristol Rovers are away fixtures you'd want. Every single game now is winnable, so we should be targeting 12+ points to secure 6th. That really should start with a win on Tuesday; they're in a hopeless situation.

[Mid Sussex Royal]

The run in starts here. Only 2 home games out of 6, but 4 away games of Shrewsbury, Northampton, Mansfield and Bristol Rovers are away fixtures you'd want. Every single game now is winnable, so we should be targeting 12+ points to secure 6th. That really should start with a win on Tuesday; they're in a hopeless situation.

Agree - have to win this. They haven't scored in 5 or won in 6 at home either.

Today's home defeat to Cambridge has just about relegated them, need to take the game to them and score early.

[PieEater]

Friends/Family support Charlton, Blackpool, and Shrewsbury. We never seem to get any luck against any of these teams so despite their poor league form they'll look at this as another easy 3 pts.

I would have gone to the original game on Saturday - with 2 Shrews, but I'm out and hiding for this one.

[billybraggsbeard]

Is this match on Sky, as its a re-arranged fixture?

[tidus_mi2]

Should be looking to win this one of course but can't help but notice this run of 11 without a win started with their 1-1 draw against us where we were lucky to draw.

[Whore Jackie]

Should be looking to win this one of course but can't help but notice this run of 11 without a win started with their 1-1 draw against us where we were lucky to draw.

Proper bogey side last season as well. 2 nil up after 15 minutes away. Lose 3-2. And then 2 nil down after 5 minutes at home, get it back to 2-2. Lose 3-2. Shrewsbury will fancy their chances.

[Snowflake Royal]

1 defeat in 12 and only 9 conceded, 3 in one game against Blackpool.

Hard to see us conceding more than 1 or losing this.

But Shrewsbury have a decent record against us, 2 wins and a draw last couple of seasons, so this has to be a game they'd fancy as their last chance to kick start any sort of run to safety, or more likely run to relegation but at least with a few pressure off morale boosting points.

Can't make my mind up between bore draw and comfortable win.

[Sutekh]

Is this match on Sky, as its a re-arranged fixture?

Yes, red button or via the NOW app, programme starts at 7.35pm

[Royals and Racers]

The club have found the money for the team to stay in Shropshire tonight.

[WestYorksRoyal]

Last season's visit remains one of our lowest moments. We definitely owe them.

[Mid Sussex Royal]

Ben Elliott still not in contact training, can't see him being back this season now.

[Snowflake Royal]

Ben Elliott still not in contact training, can't see him being back this season now.

Or possibly ever in that case.

[Greatwesternline]

Well Shrewsbury is bloody lovely.

If ever the shit hole song was not appropriate, this is it.

Beautiful pubs every 100m. Too many to choose from in one afternoon.

[Snowflake Royal]

..........................Pereira
Yiadom, Mbengue, Bindon, Garcia
...........................Wing
..................Knibbs, Savage
Campbell...........................Camara
.................Ehibhatiomhan

Button, Abrefa, Bodin, Carroll, Rushesha, Wareham, Stickland

How Abrefa has been dropped given his quality performances and Garcia's shit show in the first 20 minutes against Wycombe is beyond me. Also surprised Wareham isn't leading the line. Although at least there you wouldn't drop Kelvin, Camara was decent against Wycombe and Campbell got better after a poor start and is otherwise ahead of Camara,

[LUX]

Come on URZ

[Sutekh]

[Snowflake Royal]

Slightly frantic start.

[Snowflake Royal]

Both teams far better in the attacking third than defensive.

If Shrewsbury didn't spend half their time failing to pass out from the back they could be a threat to more teams.

[leon]

How the fcuk do we make these teams look good?

We are fcuking woeful away from home