Shrewsbury Town travel to the Kassam Stadium to face an Oxford United buoyed by putting six past Crewe at the weekend.
Karl Robinson’s side boosted their play-off chances by demolishing Crewe at the weekend – leaving them four points behind Lincoln in sixth place. Town thwarted another play-off challenger in the shape of Gillingham at the weekend, and a successive clean sheet would be quite an achievement against their free-scoring opposition.
This contest is something of a fixture anomaly as both sides meet for the first time this campaign. The pandemic and various schedule congestions mean Shrewsbury and Oxford will battle in the league twice in less than a month.
Shrewsbury will be without Grenadian international Aaron Pierre who continues to suffer with a calf problem – Northern Irishman Josh Daniels also has a similar issue and is not expected to travel. Otherwise, the visitors have no other selection issues and may name the same side for the third game in a row.
Town are searching for their first victory at the Kassam Stadium since Boxing Day 2014. James Collins and Mark Ellis were on target in a 2-0 win.
The home side have been boosted by full-back Sam Long penning a new deal. He has also recently returned from a hamstring problem and ear infection which delayed his return from the former issue. However, Alex Gorrin is a doubt with a knee issue – but Josh Ruffles recovered from a similar problem to net one of the six against Crewe. Marcus McGuane has returned to Nottingham Forest as a thigh injury curtailed his season.
Possible Line Ups
Oxford United
13. Stevens, 12. Long, 5. Moore, 22. Atkinson, 3. Ruffles, 17. Henry, 8. Brannagan, 10. Sykes, 27. Lee, 9. Taylor, 30. Barker
Subs: 1. Eastwood, 11. Winnall, 14. Forde, 19. Agyei, 20. Hanson, 25. Shodipo, 28. Kelly
Shrewsbury Town
31. Sarkic, 17. Love, 5. Williams, 24. Ebanks-Landell, 29. Pennington, 14. Ogbeta, 10. Vela, 8. Norburn, 6. Goss, 7. Whalley, 23. Udoh
Subs: 1. Burgoyne, 4. Edwards, 9. Pyke, 12. Sears, 20. Main, 28. Davis, 32. Chapman
Other League One Fixtures
AFC Wimbledon V Ipswich
Blackpool V Accrington
Crewe V Portsmouth
Doncaster V Burton
Lincoln V MK Dons
Rochdale V Swindon
Wigan V Sunderland
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