Shrewsbury Town

The hosts' only goal at the University of Bolton Stadium came in the 63rd minute when Josh Sheehan unleashed a powerful curling effort from 25 yards out which found the top corner.

 

Salop created plenty of chances throughout the match but saw most of them blocked or saved and the Wanderers' defence remained resolute.

 

Marko Marosi was also outstanding, making three brilliant saves in the second half to keep Shrewsbury in the game but unfortunately, they couldn't do enough to secure a point.

 

After serving a two-match suspension, Ryan Bowman came into the starting line-up in the centre-forward position with Rob Street on the left flank and Tom Bloxham on the right.

After missing two games through injury, Matt Pennington returned to the side at right-back with Chey Dunkley and Taylor Moore in the heart of the defence with Jordan Shipley at left-back.

Ian Evatt's Bolton side lined up in a 3-4-1-2 formation with Kyle Dempsey in the number 10 role. Dion Charles and Victor Adeboyejo were the front two.

Early into the fixture, Bloxham showed his quality by using some fancy footwork to bypass two defenders and get into the box, but Dempsey did well to read the danger and make a well-timed challenge before he could get his shot away.

Just before the 10-minute mark, the home side created their first chance when Dempsey hit a low drive from the edge of the box that sailed inches wide.

Dempsey was the architect for another Bolton attack in the 27th minute.

The 27-year-old manoeuvred his way around the Town defence before again trying his luck from just outside the box - with his effort once again sailing wide.

 

Shrewsbury threatened again before the break with Luke Leahy seeing a shot from 25 yards deflected over the bar.

 

Those moments aside, though, the half proved a very even affair with the two teams cancelling each other out.