Shrewsbury vs Northampton

The numbers tell a clear story for Shrewsbury: 1 wins, 0 draws and 4 losses in their last 5 outings, worth 3 points — a worrying return. In front of goal, Shrewsbury have found chances hard to convert, netting 2 times while conceding 12. Worryingly for Shrewsbury, they have drawn blanks in 3 of their last 5 matches, a return that will need to improve against organised opposition.

Northampton, meanwhile, come into this with a different story to tell. Northampton head into this fixture desperate for a turnaround after collecting 5 points from a possible 15 in their last 5. 3 goals scored and 6 conceded in their last 5 appearances point to a side that often struggles to break teams down. Goalless afternoons have been a recurring issue for Northampton, who have failed to score 2 times recently — breaking that habit will be crucial. History between these two shows 4 home wins, 1 away wins and 1 draws from 6 meetings. The fixture has averaged 2.3 goals per meeting, with a decent amount of goalmouth action.

Both defences have been relatively solid recently, which could make this a tight contest where chances are at a premium. The midfield battle will likely be decisive in such a close encounter. With nothing substantive separating these two on paper, a draw would surprise no one — but neither will either side be content with sharing the points. The first goal, again, looks decisive.

The head-to-head record strongly favours Shrewsbury, which could play a psychological role in this fixture. With so little to separate these sides, it could come down to which team wants it more on the day. Kick-off in the League Two awaits.