Preview: Shrewsbury Town vs Walsall - prediction, team news, lineups

Meeting in this competition for the third straight season, Shrewsbury Town and Walsall clash for an EFL Trophy battle on Tuesday night at The Croud Meadow.

The Shrews have struggled massively at the beginning of the League Two term, whilst the Saddlers on looking good to compete for a top-three finish.

---

Match preview

Following a return of just 33 points from 46 matches last season, Shrewsbury Town's decade-long spell in the third tier of English football came to a sobering end, with Tuesday night's hosts now seemingly in danger of dropping out of the Football League all together.

The Shropshire-based outfit have made a woeful start to the 2025-26 League Two campaign, joining Oldham Athletic, Accrington Stanley, Crawley Town and Cheltenham Town as one of five sides who are yet to pick up a victory in the 24-team division.

That being said, Shrewsbury managed to do some good on Saturday afternoon, when a goalless draw at The Croud Meadow versus the aforementioned Accrington halted a four-game losing run in the fourth tier, a spell which is responsible for their current 23rd-placed standing.

Possibly a cause for optimism ahead of Tuesday night's Southern Group C fixture, the Shrews' sole victory across eight attempts so far this season arrived in their opening game of the EFL Trophy, with the League Two side beating Chelsea Under-21s 3-1.

Replacing the arguably-treacherous Gareth Ainsworth in March, former Leicester City interim boss Michael Appleton is the man tasked with bringing the glory days back to Shrewsbury, who have won just once across 16 matches since the 49-year-old's spring arrival.

Experiencing an almighty collapse during the second half of last season and ultimately missing out on promotion to League One at Wembley Stadium in the playoff final, Walsall are looking to right the wrongs of 2024-25 and return to the third tier at the seventh attempt.

The Saddlers have enjoyed a steady start to their quest for League One football, collecting 12 points from their opening six matches of the League Two campaign, sitting them sixth in the standings, level on points with third-placed Bromley ahead of an EFL Trophy-shaped break.

Mat Sadler's troops come into Tuesday's trip to Shropshire straight off the back of a statement result at Stadium MK on Saturday afternoon, when a second-half effort from Charlie Lakin was enough to secure maximum points at the base of promotion favourites MK Dons.

Since the January departure of Nathan Lowe back to parent club Stoke City, the Saddlers have relied on goals from across their ranks, as shown at the start of this season by wide man Connor Barrett, who has netted twice after failing to score in 53 appearances last term.

Made more probable by the split of the competition into Northern and Southern sections at this stage, Walsall and Shrewsbury have been pitted against one another in each of the last two editions of the EFL Trophy, enjoying a victory apiece.

Shrewsbury Town EFL Trophy form:

W

Shrewsbury Town form (all competitions):

L L L L W D

Walsall form (all competitions):

L L W L W W

---

Team News

Shrewsbury have recently welcomed a pair of summer arrivals in the form of Arsenal loanee Ismeal Kabia and goalkeeper Will Brook, with both potentially set for EFL Trophy debuts on Tuesday.

The Shrews should make some changes from the side which drew against Accrington on the weekend, with Elyh Harrison unlikely to start in between the sticks.

There could also be alterations further up the pitch, with youngster Will Gray in line for another appearance in this competition.

Walsall have a number of experienced players waiting for starts this week, with Jamille Matt struggling for League Two minutes this term.

A former favourite at Queens Park Rangers and Aston Villa, winger Albert Adomah brings plenty of top-level knowhow to the Saddlers' ranks.

Shrewsbury Town possible starting lineup:

Brook; Stubbs, Anderson, Boyle; Sang, Hoole, England, Clucas; Kabia, Gray, Stewart

Walsall possible starting lineup:

Hornby; Farqharson, Flint, Burke; Warrington, Barrett, Finnigan, Harper, Adomah; Kanu, Matt

---

We say: Shrewsbury Town 0-2 Walsall

 

Focused on avoiding relegation in League Two, Shrewsbury could rotate heavily for the visit of Walsall on Tuesday night in the EFL Trophy.

Such a move from the Shrews would leave the door open for the Saddlers to collect a comfortable three points in Shropshire.

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

---

---