Town fall to defeat at home.
Referee: Kevin Johnson
Assistant Referee: Paul Hobday and Ollie Williams
Fourth Official: Elliot Swallow
Attendance: 5888 (153 Fleetwood)
Shrewsbury Town
25 Max O’Leary
5 Ro-Shaun Williams (OFF 68)
6 Omar Beckles
8 Ollie Norburn
9 Callum Lang
11 Ryan Giles
17 Donald Love
22 Sean Goss
24 Ethan Ebanks-Landell (OFF 45)
28 Josh Laurent
35 Jason Cummings (OFF 58)
Subs
1 Joe Murphy
2 Aaron Pierre (ON 45)
4 Dave Edwards
7 Shaun Whalley (ON 58)
15 Brad Walker
21 Louis Thompson
23 Daniel Udoh (ON 68)
Fleetwood Town
1 Alex Cairns
2 Lewie Coyle
3 Danny Andrew
6 Harry Souttar
7 Wes Burns
8 Kyle Dempsey (OFF 86)
9 Ched Evans (OFF 90)
11 Josh Morris (OFF 74)
12 Jimmy Dunne
15 Paul Coutts ©
16 Jordan Rossiter
Subs
13 Matt Gilks
4 Peter Clarke (ON 90)
17 Paddy Madden (ON 74)
22 Ashely Hunter (ON 86)
27 Harrison Biggins
28 Jack Sowerby
40 Dan Mooney
A frustrating afternoon at Montgomery Waters Meadow this afternoon. Town had many chances but weren’t fortunate enough to find the back of the net. With many decisions not going their way, Town came away without a point after a three-nil loss against Fleetwood Town.
Sam Ricketts made one change from his starting 11 last week against Rotherham. Jason Cummings starts over Shaun Whalley. Both Aaron Pierre and Louis Thompson return to today’s bench.
With one goal putting the difference between the teams, Town looked strong and created many chances. A forced substitute had to be made just before the half-time whistle as Ethan Ebanks-Landell came off for Aaron Pierre after going down injured.
Within the first minute, Sean Goss almost scored from the half-way line. After a long ball was played to Fleetwood’s backline, Jason Cummings managed to intercept the ball and lay-off Goss. Goss curled one that looked to be curling towards the goal, but Alex Cairns did well to recover and put the ball out for a Town corner. Goss stepped up to cross in the corner and Ebanks-Landell does well to get on the end of it, but the ball was just over Cairns’ bar.
Donald Love created a good chance after he was fouled by Danny Andrew. Goss crossed the ball in, deep from the right-hand side and Omar Beckles and Callum Lang were both running in to get on the end of it but was centimetres away from touching the ball into the net.
Town created many good chances but weren’t fortunate enough to finish them. Another good chance came from Josh Laurent who found Love down the right, Love crossed in the ball in an attempt to find Jason Cummings, however, Cummings just couldn’t quite make it.
Another quality free-kick from Goss after Jimmy Dunne pushed Lang in his back winning Town a free-kick in a dangerous area. Goss crossed the ball in as Beckles was diving in but once again Beckles was just short of connecting with Goss’ ball.
Ryan Giles had a great chance after Lang produced a great run down the right wing and onto the by-line, Lang pulled it back to find Giles on the edge of the box and he hit it first time, but the ball went well over Cairns’ bar.
Cummings had a great chance after he was on the receiving end of a Town long ball, Jason attempted to chip Cairns, but he managed to get his body in the way and deny Cummings a goal. The ball deflected out for a Town corner.
One of Fleetwood’s first chance of the game was a corner after Lewie Coyle went on a run from the back and attempted a cross but was denied by Ro-Shaun Williams. Captain Paul Coutts stepped up and found Jimmy Dunne at the back post. His header fired onto O’Leary’s bar and took a deflection off Lang. 1-0 Fleetwood.
Just shy of the half-time whistle Cummings had a cracking effort at goal after he saw Cairns off his line and attempted to shoot from 35-yards-out. Cummings saw his effort just floating over Cairns’ bar.
Ethan Ebanks-Landell was replaced by Aaron Pierre in the first half after seeming to pick up a hamstring injury.
Half-time: Shrewsbury Town 0 – 1 Fleetwood Town
Town got the second half underway looking full of energy and eager to get on the scoresheet. Captain fantastic Ollie Norburn being the main man in the middle, after creating chances and produced some great balls with switching play and keeping possession.
However, Town didn’t get their dream start of their second half after Josh Morris doubled Fleetwood’s lead. A scramble in the box and Morris was the man to put the ball into the back of O’Leary’s net.
Just shy of the 60-minute mark. Sam made his second substitution of the game. Shaun Whalley replaced Cummings. Shortly after, Sam’s final sub saw Daniel Udoh replace defender Ro-Shaun Williams.
Aaron Pierre produced a class challenge on Wes Burns after having to track back and deny Fleetwood from becoming a threat. The second half showed that Fleetwood became the team on top after they started to produce some good football.
Fleetwood had a good chance after a well-worked cross came flying in to find Wes Burns. Burns took it first time from inside the six-yard box and managed to fire it well over O’Leary’s goal.
With ten minutes to go, Fleetwood got their third of the game. A long ball from deep found Wes Burns down the right after Pierre struggled to meet the long ball. Burns crossed the ball into substitute Paddy Madden. Madden controlled the ball with his chest setting himself up for the volley. Madden smashed home the volley into O’Leary’s net after O’Leary’s hand just wasn’t strong enough to stop the ball from flying in.
Aaron Pierre went on a fantastic run from his backline deep into Fleetwood’s half. Pierre found Whalley down the left wing and Whalley hit an effort low that was saved at Cairn’s left post.
Into added time, Laurent had a great curling effort, but it took a deflection on the way through and was out for a Town corner. Goss’ corner found Pierre’s head but was headed over for a goal kick.
Deep into added time, Fleetwood’s caretaker manager, Joey Barton is shown a yellow card after an altercation on the touchline.
A frustrating and unlucky afternoon on home soil. Town look to put things right next week as they travel to Tranmere Rovers.
Full-time: Shrewsbury Town 0 – 3 Fleetwood Town