Shrewsbury Town got some festive delight with success against Lincoln City on Boxing Day, and the League One side seek consecutive victories in Sunday's gameweek 23 encounter with fellow strugglers Northampton Town at New Meadow.
Thursday's 1-0 success took Gareth Ainsworth's men off the bottom, a result they aim to consolidate against Kevin Nolan's side, who suffered defeat in the former midfielder's managerial bow at Reading, losing 4-1 on 26 December.
Match preview
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After showing incredible character to secure a point from 2-0 down at Wigan Athletic before Christmas, Shrewsbury did likewise against Lincoln, battling hard to hold off the promotion-chasing outfit to secure a 1-0 success.
Morgan Feeney scored the game's only goal in the ninth minute, an advantage the Shrews held on to for the remainder of the game, underscoring their resoluteness to accrue maximum points for the first time since November's 3-2 win against Birmingham City.
Having picked up four points from their last six available, the hosts are ending 2024 positively and aim to extend their undefeated run to three matches on Sunday to close out the year.
Improving to seven points from nine would require Shrewsbury to win consecutive league games for the first time since February 2023, when the Shropshire-based side claimed six successive triumphs.
The previous win after Ainsworth took charge in mid-November was followed by a three-match losing run before the recent upswing, and Salop hope the tide has turned as they seek to strengthen their ambition to escape the drop heading into 2025.
Although they cannot leave the bottom four with maximum points, Ainsworth's troops should welcome the opportunity to reel the visitors in.
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Nolan's side could slide into the bottom four places this weekend if they drop points and Crawley Town defeat middling Exeter City.
Not even the managerial change at the Cobblers inspired an immediate turnaround, with the visiting club losing heavily on Boxing Day at Reading, extending the Shoe Army's losing run to three matches.
Though the defensive problems were inherited, the new head coach would have been underwhelmed by his side conceding two goals in the game's opening half-hour, leaving them with an uphill task for the remaining hour.
Excluding their 3-0 EFL Trophy defeat by Peterborough United, Northampton have conceded three goals at Rotherham (3-0), five at home to Charlton Athletic (5-0) and four on December 26, highlighting where the 20th-placed club's problems lie.
It will be interesting to observe if those weaknesses are fixed ahead of Sunday's visit to Shropshire, even though the away side will be aware of their opponent's worse defensive record — 41 goals conceded, three more than Nolan's side.
However, any optimism is drowned out by recognising their miserable away record, which has seen Northampton fall to four straight losses and an overall winless run stretching back three months.
Team News
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Although Carl Winchester will be assessed before Sunday, Joshua Kayode's return to the squad against Lincoln after four months was a welcome sight for the hosts.
Despite failing to convert a late penalty on Boxing Day to take him to five goals this term, one ahead of George Lloyd, John Marquis could return to the starting line-up this weekend.
While Nolan's men sustained no new injuries against Reading, Northampton are still without Patrick Brough, Ali Koiki, Luke Mbete, Callum Morton and Jack Sowerby; they could welcome back Harvey Lintott, who is touch-and-go for Sunday's visit to Shropshire.
The Cobblers may have struggled for match-winners outside of Cameron McGeehan, but Tom Eaves scoring the team's last two goals in the league to take him to three strikes this term suggests another player is stepping up for the 20th-placed club.
Shrewsbury Town possible starting lineup:
Blackman; M. Feeney, Pierre, J. Feeney; Hoole, Perry, Shipley, Benning; Castledine; Marquis, Lloyd
Northampton Town possible starting lineup:
Tzanev; McGowan, Eyoma, Guthrie, Guinness-Walker; Hondermarck, Chouchane; Pinnock, McGeehan, McCarron; Eaves
We say: Shrewsbury Town 2-1 Northampton Town
Shrewsbury might have kept their first League One clean sheet since August on Boxing Day, but that was anomalous considering the pattern of failing to keep opponents at arm's length.
Although normal service should resume in their final match of 2024, the Shrews are backed to record a marginal victory at Northampton's expense.
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