Opposition Lowdown: Michael Appleton’s Rock-Bottom Shrewsbury Town

Reading’s chase for the playoffs continues this Tuesday evening when the Royals travel to Shrewsbury. Join us as we take a closer look at the opposition.

Form

Shrewsbury Town finished last season in 19th place in League One, two places and four points clear of the relegation zone. This season marks their 10th straight season in the third tier, having won promotion from League Two in 2015 after finishing runners-up to Burton Albion.

However, they are at serious risk of dropping back down to League Two as they are currently sit bottom, 13 points adrift of safety, with only six games left to play. Their recent form has been poor, having seen four losses and one draw in their last five games, with their last win coming two months ago.

They come into this game off the back of a 0-1 home loss to Cambridge United, with former Reading loanee Dom Ballard scoring the winner. The two sides played out a 1-1 draw at the Select Car Leasing Stadium in February, with Taylor Perry scoring a second-half equaliser to cancel out Jayden Wareham’s first-half goal.

The boss

Michael Appleton: Appleton was appointed Shrewsbury manager two weeks ago, taking over from Gareth Ainsworth, following his departure to League Two Gillingham Town.

Appleton’s playing career was cut short by injury, but he represented Preston North End and West Bromwich Albion after coming through the academy at Manchester United. Having ended his playing career at West Brom, he stayed at the club in a coaching role before securing his first managerial role at Portsmouth in 2011.

Two short managerial spells at Blackpool and Blackburn Rovers followed, before Appleton had a more settled period at Oxford United, where he spent three years, guiding the club back to League One in 2016.

He then took up an assistant manager role at Leicester City and had a spell as a coach at West Brom before returning to management at Lincoln City in 2019. He went on to manage Blackpool in 2022 but only lasted seven months with the Tangerines before having a four-month stint in charge of Charlton Athletic in September 2023.

The 49-year-old has seen his new side lose to Birmingham City and Cambridge and draw with Wycombe Wanderers in his first three games in charge. Appleton typically likes his sides to play aggressive, forward-thinking football.

Squad

Shrewsbury signed goalkeeper Jamal Blackman on a short-term deal in December and he recently signed a contract extension until the end of the season.

The Shrews managed to bring in an additional four players during the January transfer window with three joining from non-league clubs: midfielder Dom Gape from Eastleigh, forward Ricardo Dingana from Telford and striker Callum Stewart from Leamington. They also signed striker Vadaine Oliver in a loan deal from Bradford City.

Predicted lineup

Blackman, M. Feeney, Pierre, J. Feeney, Wheeler, Ojo, Gilliead, Benning, Shipley, Lloyd, Marquis

Key player

3. Mal Benning: Defender Benning joined Shrewsbury in August 2023 from Port Vale.

He started his career in the youth setup at Walsall and made his debut for the Saddlers in November 2012. Prior to this he had a loan spell at Evesham United and also spent time on loan at York City while with the club.

Benning went on to join Mansfield Town in 2015 and spent six seasons with the Stags, making 251 appearances. He joined Port Vale in 2021, where he stayed for two seasons before going on to join Shrewsbury.

Since signing for the Shrews, Benning has made 89 appearances for the club, scoring three goals. The 31-year-old is a left-back by trade and likes to get forward when possible, as he is an effective crosser of the ball.

One to watch

6. Josh Feeney: Defender Feeney joined Shrewsbury on loan from Premier League Aston Villa in August last year.

He started his career in the youth setup at Fleetwood Town before joining the Villa academy in 2021. He is yet to make an appearance for the Villans but gained his first taste of first-team football in a loan spell at Spanish side Real Union in the second half of last season.

Feeney joined Shrewsbury last summer to gain further experience in English football and has played a part in 32 games for the Shrews so far. The 19-year-old has represented England at under-16, under-17 and under-18 level and has 15 Young Lions caps to his name.

Feeney is a centre-back who is an effective tackler, while also possessing strong concentration.