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Sports Mole previews Saturday's League One clash between Shrewsbury Town and Rotherham United, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Both sat in the bottom four of the League One table in the midst of three-match winless streaks, Shrewsbury Town and Rotherham United will square off at New Meadow on Saturday.

Both teams' only third-tier victories thus far came in the weekend before the September international break, with the hosts having since suffered three straight losses while their visitors suffered a third league defeat of the season at home to Birmingham City last weekend.

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Match preview

© Imago

Shrewsbury Town return to action on Saturday aiming to bounce back from a dismal start to their League One campaign, having collected just three points from their seven outings thus far.

Indeed, their six defeats from those matches is the highest tally in England's top four tiers this term, while only Saturday's visitors have scored as few as their five goals and just two sides have conceded more than their 12.

After beginning with consecutive losses at the hands of Stevenage, Peterborough United and Huddersfield Town, Paul Hurst's side put their first points on the board in a 3-0 victory over Leyton Orient at the end of August, but they have failed to build on that result since, firstly suffering a 3-0 loss of their own at the hands of Wrexham.

Then on the back of a 1-0 home loss to promotion-chasing Charlton Athletic, the Shrews most recently visited Mansfield Town on Saturday and again came away empty-handed, despite going ahead inside the first two minutes through Leo Castledine as Lee Gregory levelled the scores and Aaron Lewis sealed a 2-1 home victory in the 86th minute.

With pressure growing around New Meadow and the need to avoid being cut adrift in the coming weeks, Shrewsbury will hope to put their poor start behind them and record a crucial home victory on Saturday.

© Imago

Their visitors will also aim to bounce back from a tough start to their League One campaign, having failed to get their promotion bid up and running thus far.

Following their relegation from the Championship last season, Rotherham United set out to bounce back at the first time of asking under the management of Steve Evans this term, but they have only managed six points from their first seven outings.

After kicking off with a pair of defeats and a draw, the Millers were able to put a first victory on the board at home to fellow promotion-chasers Huddersfield Town, thanks to late goals from Jonson Clarke-Harris and Mallik Wilks, but they have been unable to add another notch to their wins column in three further outings since.

Draws with Charlton Athletic and Burton Albion respectively followed, before Evans's men most recently hosted Birmingham City on Saturday and succumbed to a 2-0 loss as Tomoki Iwata and Jay Stansfield netted first-half goals for the visitors.

Now sat in the relegation zone after seven outings and already trailing the playoff spots by five points, Rotherham United will be desperate to kickstart their campaign with what would be a first away league win since November 2022.

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Team News

© Imago

Paul Hurst may opt to make several changes to his Shrewsbury Town starting XI from last week's defeat to Mansfield Town as he looks to inspire a change in fortunes.

John Marquis and Tom Bloxham will fight to come into the attack from the outset, and the former could displace George Lloyd and start as a lone striker on Saturday.

Leo Castledine will keep his place in the centre of a supporting trio, having managed two goals in his first four League One appearances since arriving on loan from Chelsea, while Alex Gilliead may drop in and join Carl Winchester at the base of the midfield.

Rotherham United welcomed defender Sean Raggett back from an injury layoff for their recent meeting with Birmingham City, although Zak Jules, Shaun McWilliams and Liam Kelly are set to remain out of action after missing that defeat.

After being withdrawn at half-time last weekend, Cameron Humphreys may drop out, leaving Raggett and Jamie McCart to partner up in the middle of the defence and allowing Joe Powell to return to the midfield alongside Christ Tiehi and Hakeem Odoffin.

Ahead of them, Mallik Wilks should again get the nod over Joseph Hungbo to offer support to a front two, with Jonson Clarke-Harris and Sam Nombe hoping to continue their strike partnership despite competition from Jordan Hugill.

Shrewsbury Town possible starting lineup:
Savin; Hoole, Nsiala, Feeney, Benning; Winchester, Gilliead; Bloxham, Castledine, Shipley; Marquis

Rotherham United possible starting lineup:
Phillips; Rafferty, Raggett, McCart, James; Odoffin, Tiehi, Powell; Wilks; Nombe, Clarke-Harris

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We say: Shrewsbury Town 1-2 Rotherham United

Rotherham United certainly have more quality than their start to the season suggests, and they should fancy themselves to kickstart an improved run against a Shrewsbury Town side lacking any confidence of their own.


For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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