Preview: Shrewsbury Town vs. Sunderland - prediction, team news, lineups

Sunderland will be eyeing up back-to-back victories for the first time since mid-October when they travel to face Shrewsbury Town in League One on Tuesday night.

The visitors are currently hanging onto the division's final playoff spot, whilst Shrewsbury are fighting for survival at the foot of the table.

Match preview

© Reuters

Four wins from 17 league matches this season has seen Shrewsbury spend most of the campaign in the relegation zone – only once this season have Salop entered a match outside the bottom four.

Their form has in part been hampered by disruption on the touchline, as manager Steve Cotterill has only recently returned to the dugout following complications with Covid-19.

Stability will be crucial for the side from Shropshire if they are to extend their five-year stay in the third tier, and the visit of playoff-chasing Sunderland could prove the perfect spark needed to ignite their season.

Victory over the Black Cats at New Meadow last season was the second consecutive campaign that Shrewsbury had beaten Sunderland at home.

In fact, Sunderland have won only one of their three trips to New Meadow during their time in League One, with Lee Johnson's side hoping for better returns on Tuesday.

Saturday's victory over Ipswich Town ended a run of two consecutive defeats for Sunderland, who had dropped from third at the start of October to seventh at the end of the month.

Back in the playoff mix, Sunderland will be eyeing up their midweek clash against relegation candidates Shrewsbury as a potential launchpad for the upcoming busy period, yet victories on the road have been hard to come by this season.

Sunderland have lost more away games than they have won this season, with four of their five league defeats having come away from the comforts of the Stadium of Light.

A troublesome record at New Meadow, coupled with their uninspiring away record could frighten an under-pressure Johnson, who has been tasked with returning Sunderland to the Championship after a three-year absence.

Team News

Two late goals from Luke O'Nien and Aiden McGeady helped Sunderland squeeze past Ipswich at the weekend, with the latter brought off the bench to find the winner.

It is likely that McGeady will return to the side for the visit to Shrewsbury, yet the Black Cats' biggest goal threat will come elsewhere.

Ross Stewart has scored 10 times for Sunderland this season and the striker will be keen to add to a growing tally on Tuesday evening.

Having taken the lead in the fourth minute against Cheltenham, Daniel Udoh's strike was cancelled out by two goals either side of the break.

Part of the reason that Shrewsbury were unable to hold on was the red card for Elliot Bennett midway through the first period.

Bennett will be absent for the visit of Sunderland, meaning Matthew Pennington will likely move out to right wing-back, whilst Aaron Pierre could cover across the back-three.

Shrewsbury Town possible starting lineup:
Marosi; Pennington, Ebanks-Landell, Nurse; Bennet, Vela, Davis, Leahy, Ogbeta; Udoh, Bowman

Sunderland possible starting lineup:
Hoffman; Winchester, Wright, Doyle, O'Nien; Evans, Neil; Gooch, Embleton, Broadhead; Stewart

We say: Shrewsbury Town 0-2 Sunderland

Sunderland's stint in League One has definitely been longer than the North-East club would have hoped for and a drop off in form has seen them fall out of the automatic promotion picture.

There is still time for Johnson and Sunderland to recover, with games against the likes of Shrewsbury must-wins if they wish to be playing Championship football next season.

Previews by email