“Que sera sera, whatever will be will be, we`re going to Shrewsbury, que sera sera.”
Originally a song of defiance as we accepted our drop into the League One last season, we are now indeed going to Shrewsbury, and there will be a lot of us tomorrow, expectant and in good spirits. We`ve sold out our allocation and have a four-point buffer over Fleetwood as we look to maintain that stranglehold on the second automatic promotion place.
It has been a demanding schedule for Wanderers, which may have started to take its toll on the squad, with a few injury doubts. This is also a massive game for Shrewsbury, just two points above the drop zone with Port Vale having a game in hand. Paul Hurst has made the New Meadow a bit of a fortress in recent weeks too.
But we`ve been good at raiding fortresses of late. Very good.
Vital Quotes:
“We still do all the preparation on the opposition but we want them to be a self-managing group.”
Phil Parkinson, in the Bolton News
“A few weeks ago the manager said there were 12 cup finals, now we have done four and won all of them.”
Josh Vela, again to the BN, on our recent form
Shrewsbury Town Team News:
There are no fresh injury doubts for Shrews boss Paul Hurst
Player to watch: Joe Riley
Once a Wanderer, Joe Riley now plays for the opposition. He has had to battle injury again in recent months, but has still managed to make 30 appearances since moving to Shropshire last summer. Despite coming through the academy, he isn`t actually a Bolton supporter, so don`t even expect mixed feelings if he ends up on the winning side.
Bolton Wanderers Team News:
There are doubts over Jay Spearing, Mark Beevers, Darren Pratley and Adam Le Fondre, none of the injuries are serious but the fixture run has to catch up with the players at some point.
Player to watch: Chris Long
He could start in place of Le Fondre. Long did well off the bench on Tuesday despite failing to score. There was pace, movement, and several shots on target, I`m reliably informed defender Aristote Nsiala isn`t very quick at all, so if he does play, that could be a fun mismatch for us.
Match Facts & Stats
Our last visit to Shrewsbury was in 2013, when we won 2-1 in a League Cup tie. Sanmi Odelusi and Rob Hall scored our goals. The previous league visit was in the 1991-92 season, when Tony Philliskirk, Tony Kelly and Dave Reeves scored in a 3-1 win.
We will have won four on the bounce away if we take the three points tomorrow. Bolton last won four consecutive league games away in the 2000-01 season. Wimbledon, Burnley, Preston and Sheffield Wednesday were all beaten without conceding a single goal.
Shrewsbury are unbeaten at home since Fleetwood beat them in early January.
Match Prediction:
We ended Fleetwood`s run, we`ll end Shrewsbury`s run. 2-1 to the Wanderers
Next Fixtures:
Chesterfield at home next Saturday, before the rescheduled trip to Southend a week on Tuesday.