Jon has had his feet up this week but he’s back on the case weighing up Shrewsbury Town and what sort of a threat they could pose for our promotion chasing lads. Jon predicts a close game, so strap yourselves in.
Well after a free week due to international call ups, and a weekend where yet again results went our way even without playing, the Dons are back today refreshed and revitalised ready for the 7-game run in.
Last time out “Manning’s Men” travelled to Cambridge backed by a phenomenal 1,448 noisy away fans and although it wasn’t the best performance on the pitch, with a combination of Cumming and Coventry denying Knibbs and Ironside respectively, then Knibbs somehow dragged a shot from six yards wide. The Dons dug deep and a long throw from Daniel Harvie paid dividends as Darling flicked the ball on and Eisa laid it back to O’Hora who brilliantly curled it round the defender into the far corner. From then on it was comfortable and secured another valuable 3 points, particularly with Rotherham dropping points at home to Shrewsbury ironically.
With seven games to go anything is possible but Saturday will be a very stern test. At one point this season you’d be forgiven for thinking Shrewsbury were in a relegation scrap, three weeks, nine goals and none conceded later they are a confident and different animal. A 5-0 win at home to struggling Morecambe was backed up by a fantastic 3-0 away win away at Rotherham. Saturday saw a streaky Lincoln visit Shropshire and suffer a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Steve Cotterill’s side. The Man in Focus with the goal (more on him later).
Marko Marosi served Coventry well in their title winning season between the posts and defensive duo Aaron Pierre and Ethan Ebanks-Landell are a very solid partnership (not the memories I have of EEL). Luke Leahy is their set piece maestro with 8 goals and 6 assists this season already and Elliott Bennett won the L1 title as Blackburn Rovers captain. Josh Vela when fit is a superb midfielder and Ryan Bowman has enjoyed a fruitful if not slightly sporadic first season in L1 with a 1 in 4 goal conversion rate.
Sometimes the National League can unearth some gems, take Peterborough who have had fantastic success, Aaron Maclean, and Craig Mackail Smith two great examples, and Daniel Udoh could be the next off that production line. Signed in 2018 from Telford it’s fair to say it’s taken a while for him to settle in but this season he already has 12 goals to his name including 3 across the current unbeaten run. Pacy and direct he drives the team forward, often benefiting from the hard work of Bowman or the creativity of Vela. Not afraid to take an early shot, Cotterill has got Udoh playing his best version of himself and that can only benefit Salop in the long run.
Predicted Line-up
Cumming
Kesler – O’Hora – Darling – Lewington – Harvie
Coventry – McEachran
Parrott – Eisa – Twine
If Wickham was more able to complete 90 minutes, I’d play him. His physicality would be a bonus against the Shrewsbury defence with runners off him being the key. As strong as Shrewsbury are defensively, I feel quick incisive passing across the ground is the way forward. Pace scares defenders, particularly EEL. Therefore, I predict a narrow 1-0 win. A week off might lead to a slow start but we have more than enough quality plus the incentive of being second by the time Rotherham play Charlton on the 9th of April. Incentive enough to keep the streak going.
This team feels Unstoppable
COYD.
