Next Up: Shrewsbury v Exeter

City just wouldn’t be City without continuing to stoke the embers of a season, and a bumper maximum haul from the Easter weekend fixtures sees Paul Tisdale’s side take on arguably its most difficult test of the season just a point outside the playoff zone, a position that had you asked any City supporter after the capitulation in the Devon Derby, they’d have laughed in your face. Tom Nichols misses the trip to Shrewsbury as he completes his three match ban, meaning Tisdale may be tempted to keep to the same starting XI for the third match in a row, although the contributions from the bench of both David Wheeler and Clinton Morrison cannot be ignored. David Noble is reportedly back in training but is unlikely to be risked at this point especially with the team in such fine form.

Shrewsbury, having been installed as one of the promotion favourites in pre-season, have performed to the tag admirably throughout the season and enter Saturday’s fixture knowing they are almost over the finishing line, currently sitting 10 points clear of Bury in fourth place. Micky Mellon, considered somewhat unfortunate to have lost his job at Fleetwood last season, has a squad brimming with talent at this level but crucially has got them to perform to their obvious ability. The Shrews’ form is even better than City’s, with five straight victories albeit all against sides around halfway or below, their last match against a fellow promotion chasing side a 1-0 defeat to Wycombe. Mellon’s side also has the distinction currently of boasting both the most potent attack and the meanest defence in the division – James Collins is leading the way with 16 goals in all competitions but they have goals all over the park, while their defence is marshalled, amongst others, by one time City trainee Mark Ellis.

City’s stunning comeback win at Luton on Good Friday was the second time this season that City have overturned a 2-0 half time deficit to win 3-2, the first was the reverse of this fixture. A brace from Collins saw Shrewsbury lead comfortably at the break, only for City to come back through Wheeler and a brace from Nichols. The last time City made the trip up to Shropshire was a clash of promotion rivals in the 08/09 season. City missed a penalty through Matt Gill, Grant Holt netted his penalty, before Marcus Stewart netted late on to provide City with a deserved point. City hold a slight edge in league head to heads with 17 wins to Shrewsbury’s 16 (14 draws).

Match Officials: http://www.exeweb.com/2015/04/08/match-officials-shrewsbury-town-v-exeter-city/

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