Shrewsbury Town battle it out with Burton Albion to earn a point.
Town: Steve Arnold, Ro-Shaun Williams, Omar Beckles, Shaun Whalley, Tyrese Campbell (Stefan Payne, 57), James Bolton, Alex Gilliead (Fejiri Okenabirhie, 78), Luke Waterfall, Scott Golbourne, Ollie Norburn, Anthony Grant.
Subs: Reice Charles-Cook, Mat Sadler, Fejiri Okenabirhie, Sam Smith, Aaron Amadi-Holloway, Ryan Sears, Stefan Payne.
Burton: Bradley Collins, Jake Buxton, Jamie Allen, Kyle McFadzean, Scott Fraser (Kieran Wallace, 85), Lucas Akins, David Templeton (John Brayford, 72), Marcus Harness (William Miller, 88), Stephen Quinn, Colin Daniel, Liam Boyce.
Subs: Stephen Bywater, John Brayford, Joe Sbarra, Alex Bradley, William Miller, Reece Hutchinson, Kieran Wallace.
Referee: Sebastian Stockbridge
Assistants: Gareth Mellor and Steven Plane
Fourth official: Christopher Kidd
Attendance: 6254 (490)
Shrewsbury Town were unable to take all three points against Burton and shared the points with the visitors.
Town took an early lead through Tyrese Campbell but Burton fired back to earn a point.
Team News:
Sam Ricketts was unable to select four of his squad for the game against Burton Albion. Town were without Josh Laurent, Greg Docherty, and Romain Vincelot through injury and Dave Edwards due to suspension. Mat Sadler was also replaced in the starting 11 in favour of Luke Waterfall.
First Half:
Town started the game in the best way possible with an eighth minute goal. Tyrese Campbell managed to get on the end of a great pass from Ro-Shaun Williams as Shaun Whalley’s dummy fooled the defender. Campbell went one-on-one with the keeper and calmly slotted the ball into the corner of the goal.
The Brewers were dealt a hint of luck just two minutes after the opener and managed to pull a goal back. Omar Beckles looked to have been fouled inside the box as David Templeton rose above the Town defence to head home from a crossed ball – bringing the score back level.
James Bolton was given a yellow card during the early stages of the game for a late tackle on Brewers goal-scorer Templeton.
Whalley had a great opportunity to put Town back into the lead with 20 minutes on the clock. The winger intercepted the ball just inside the box but wasn’t able to get the ball out from his feat and couldn’t generate enough power to trouble Bradley Collins.
A great tackle by Williams surely stopped Albion from getting another goal. Liam Boyce had a yard of space in the box and was shaping up to shoot. Luckily for Town, Williams slid in and took the ball away from the Brewers frontman.
The half came to an end with both sides going into the break level on the score sheet. Some positive football from Town would have given Sam Ricketts and his team encouragement going into the second-half.
Second Half:
The half began with both teams looking extremely competitive and keen to impress onto the opposition. Bolton was close to putting the ball in the net for Town in the 53rd minute as he latched onto a cross but saw the ball flash wide.
It wasn’t from a lack of trying that Town that saw minimal goalmouth action. Whalley and Alex Gilliead were both pushing hard in the middle of the park but the visitors were remaining defensively resolute.
The visitors were also pushing for the goal to take them into the lead but were unable to find the target through Lucas Akins in the 72nd minute. The Brewers man got on the end of a through ball but saw his effort dash past the post.
Williams was given a yellow card in the 78th minute for pulling back Marcus Harness.
Ollie Norburn was also booked just a minute later for a foul just outside the Town box.
Town were pushing hard to find a second goal with 10 minutes left on the clock and were having success in finding ways into the box. Burton however were remaining solid and managing to find last ditch blocks and tackles.
Harness was given a yellow card in the 86th minute for blocking Town from resuming the game.
John Brayford was given a yellow card two minutes later for blocking Steve Arnolds kick.
Town were awarded a free kick just outside the box right at the death. Whalley stood over the ball but his effort went straight into the keeper’s arms.
The game came to an end with Town sharing the points with the visitors.