Shrewsbury Town play host to Stevenage on Saturday afternoon needing a win to remain within close proximity of moving out of trouble in League One.
At a time when the home side sit in 23rd position in the standings, Stevenage remain in 13th place despite a four-match winless streak.
Match preview
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Sitting four points adrift of safety in League One, it would be easy to assume that Gareth Ainsworth is not doing a solid job at Shrewsbury.
However, he has recorded five wins and four draws from his 17 matches in charge, keeping the Shropshire outfit within touching distance of moving outside of the bottom four.
Their cause was helped by beginning February with a seven-point haul from three matches, victories being posted over Mansfield Town and Rotherham United.
That gave Shrewsbury momentum ahead of a home double-header against Bolton Wanderers and Huddersfield Town, but they have fallen to 3-2 and 1-0 defeats respectively.
Each of Shrewsbury's most recent five defeats from January 4 have come by one-goal margins, emphasising that they should feel like they are on an upward trajectory.
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As for Stevenage, a four-match run without success has undermined the work that Alex Revell has been doing this campaign.
Stevenage now sit 12 points adrift of the playoffs and the same amount above the relegation zone, there being the realistic prospect of the season petering out with little to play for.
Building on last season's ninth-placed finish was always going to be a tough ask, yet victory on Saturday would give Stevenage a chance to move back inside the top 10.
Their away form has been a big cause for concern with just eight goals being scored in their 14 league games, ensuring that only three victories have been posted during that time.
That said, away triumphs at Barnsley and Wrexham on January 25 and January 28 remain fresh in the memory if they require any added motivation.
Team News
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Despite defeat last time out, Ainsworth may not over-react with multiple changes courtesy of the defeat coming via a late goal.
If a change is made, Jordan Shipley may return in midfield, while Vadaine Oliver is an option to come into the attack.
Having failed to overcome a Burton side that played the final 33 minutes with 10 men, more alterations are expected to be made by Stevenage boss Revell.
Louis Thompson may be a certain starter in the engine room, with Elliott List also in contention for a recall in a wide area.
Eli King is one player who could drop down to the substitutes' bench having recently been in and out of the side.
Shrewsbury Town possible starting lineup:
Blackman; M.Feeney, J.Feeney, Pierre; Hoole, Gape, Ojo, Benning; Gilliead, Marquis; Lloyd
Stevenage possible starting lineup:
Cooper; Smith, Goode, Piergianni, Freestone; Phillips, Thompson; List, Kemp, Reid; Hanlan
We say: Shrewsbury Town 1-1 Stevenage
With both teams out of form, this could prove to be somewhat of a war of attrition on Saturday. Taking that into consideration, a low-scoring draw feels like the most realistic outcome, a result that would suit neither team.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Darren Plant
