In the opening matchday of the 2024-25 League One season, Stevenage will play host to Shrewsbury Town at The Lamex Stadium on Saturday with both aiming to get off to a winning start.
The hosts finished ninth last campaign, just five points outside of the playoff spots, while the visitors narrowly survived in the division with a four-point lead over the relegation zone.
Match preview
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After climbing from 21st in League Two in 2021-22 to finishing second and securing promotion into League One in the following season, Stevenage enjoyed a brilliant first campaign back in the division since their relegation in 2013-14.
Steve Evans, who oversaw that rise up the divisions, made a shock exit in favour of former side Rotherham United in April, leaving Alex Revell in charge for the final two games of the season, which they won and drew.
Revell was given the permanent job in May and he will be hoping he can replicate, and surpass, the success of his predecessor with Stevenage aiming to achieve a playoff place this year.
They enjoyed a positive pre-season ahead of the new term, winning three and drawing one of their five matches, with their only defeat coming against Championship side Coventry City.
Stevenage will be confident of securing an opening-day victory in this game, especially with the game taking place at The Lamex Stadium, where they lost just five of 23 home matches last year.
As for the visitors, outside of a surprise third-place finish in 2017-18, a season in which they eventually lost 2-1 to Rotherham in extra time of the playoff final, they have consistently fought for their survival in the third tier since their promotion into the division in 2014-15.
A 12th-placed finish in 2022-23 did provide hope that Shrewsbury would be able to climb up the table in the following term, but they instead fell back down the standings, finishing in 19th and just four points above the drop zone.
Paul Hurst, who has been in charge since January 2024, would have been hoping for a strong pre-season as he aims to steer the side back into the middle of the table this year, but Shrewsbury have managed just one win from their six friendlies.
He will be hoping for an improved performance against Stevenage on Saturday, although they have struggled in this fixture in recent meetings, including suffering two defeats last season.
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Team News
The hosts could hand debuts to several of their summer signings in this game, including defender Lewis Freestone, who joined from Cheltenham Town, and Tyreece Simpson, among others.
Revell will be without the services of last season's top scorer Jamie Reid, Jake Forster-Caskey and Aaron Pressley due to injury, while Taye Ashby-Hammond is also a doubt.
Shrewsbury have been extremely busy in the summer window with 11 players joining the club so far, meaning Hurst could give debuts to a whole host of fresh faces in this one.
Toby Savin, Josh Feeney, Aristote Nsiala and Luca Hoole could make up an entirely new defensive line up in this one having all joined the side throughout the summer.
Stevenage possible starting lineup:
Cooper; Sweeney, Freestone, Piergianni; Smith, Phillips, N. Thompson, L. Thompson, Wildin; Simpson, List
Shrewsbury Town possible starting lineup:
Savin; Feeney, Nsiala, Hoole; Pierre, Shipley, O'Reilly, Winchester, Benning; Marquis, Bloxham
We say: Stevenage 2-1 Shrewsbury Town
Shrewsbury may have made a number of signings to strengthen their side in an attempt to avoid a relegation battle, but the hosts have had a much better pre-season and should be aiming for a playoff spot this season, leading us to believe Stevenage will win this one.
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