Next Up: Exeter City v Shrewsbury Town

City would probably have taken a point from their visit to foreign shores last Sunday, but having led 2-0 at half time to draw 2-2 was something of a disappointment. Both Newport goals were scored while Scot Bennett was limping around the pitch, and the club captain is unlikely to be available for the visit of Shrewsbury. This may mean something of a switch in personnel with either Matt Oakley or Danny Butterfield moving further forward, unless David Noble is fit enough to start in which case he may fill the holding midfield role. There is good news in terms of City’s long-term list with Jamie Reid finally coming towards the end of a nightmare 18 months, although Saturday is likely to be too soon to see the Northern Ireland U21 international return to the side.

Shrewsbury had a horrid 13/14 season, finishing eight points behind the relegation line in League One, only finishing above Stevenage on goal difference having won just nine league matches all season. Micky Mellon was installed as manager towards the end of the season and, while he couldn’t keep them up, there were enough encouraging signs for the Shrews to be installed amongst the favourites this season. Six straight league wins, including a 5-0 thrashing of fellow favourites Bury, have reinforced the thoughts that Shrewsbury’s stay in League Two will be a short one. Shrewsbury’s only defeat in all competitions since the beginning of October was a very unfortunate 2-1 reverse against Chelsea in the Capital One Cup. Mellon, who counts promotion to the Football League with Fleetwood amongst his achievements, has plenty of firepower at his disposal, with Jim Collins (eight) and Andy Mangan (seven) leading the way. Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro, something of a commentator’s nightmare, has also been in fine form and the ex-Tranmere and Rochdale man has contributed four goals to the cause in addition to his usual directness on the ball. One-time City trainee Mark Ellis has recently returned from injury and will hope to take the field against City for the first time having managed to miss all four games while at Torquay in 07/08.

Because City and Shrewsbury swapped divisions in 11/12, the sides have only spent one season in the same division since City returned to the Football League in 2008. Shrewsbury did, however, make two visits to the Park that season in quick succession as the sides were paired up in the JPT (or equivalent!). The Shrews came away victorious on both occasions – 1-0 in the league (Paul Murray) and 2-1 in the JPT (McIntyre put Shrewsbury ahead, Harley equalised only for Ben Davies to score the winner at the death). The return at what was then the “New Meadow” on a Tuesday night was one a certain Exeweb co-owner won’t remember too fondly, but the match was a pulsating 1-1 draw. Matt Gill missed a penalty for City, Grant Holt showed him how to do it, only for Marcus Stewart to score a deserved equaliser in the latter stages. Overall the league head-to-head is level with 16 wins apiece (14 draws).

Match Officials: http://www.exeweb.com/2014/11/20/match-officials-exeter-city-v-shrewsbury-town/

Exeweb’s St James park Ground Guide: http://www.exeweb.com/2012/05/29/the-things-you-need-to-know-st-james-park-exeter/

Last league meeting at St James Park: http://www.grecians.co.uk/wordpress/?tb_match=1480