Preview: Shrewsbury Town vs. Doncaster Rovers - prediction, team news, lineups

Shrewsbury Town and Doncaster Rovers will both be aiming to bounce back from midweek defeats during Monday afternoon's League One battle at Montgomery Waters Meadow.

The hosts went down 3-2 to Sunderland on Good Friday, while the relegation-threatened visitors' fate is almost sealed after a 2-1 loss at home to Bolton Wanderers.

Match preview

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It was very nearly a Good Friday indeed for Shrewsbury Town and Steve Cotterill, whose side quickly found themselves on the back foot against Sunderland as Elliot Embleton and Nathan Broadhead struck before 15 minutes had passed.

An eight-minute quickfire double from Josh Vela and Tom Flanagan in the second period very nearly saw Shrewsbury come away from the Stadium of Light with a hard-earned point to their name, but Broadhead's second of the match in second-half stoppage time denied Cotterill's men a second draw on the bounce.

Taking just one point from their last three matches in League One has been a surefire way to kill the momentum after their three-game winning streak in March, but Shrewsbury are sitting pretty in 17th place and are guaranteed to be playing third-tier football next term.

While Fleetwood Town could make up the gap to Cotterill's side, they boast an unassailable 10-point lead over Gillingham with three games left to play, and attempting to go a fourth game unbeaten in front of their own fans should not be the most difficult task in the world against a confidence-depleted Rovers side.

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In stark contrast to their upcoming hosts, Doncaster's stint in the third tier is all but over, with Gary McSheffrey's outfit failing to build on their victory over already-relegated Crewe Alexandra when Bolton Wanderers came to town.

Fans were still taking their seats following the half-time interval when Amadou Bakayoko put the Trotters ahead, and even though Ademipo Odubeko levelled for Doncaster with 13 minutes to go, Kieran Sadlier restored the visitors' lead within a minute.

With only 270 minutes of football left to play in the current League One season, a six-point chasm separates 23rd-placed Doncaster from safety, and that gap could increase to an almost insurmountable nine should Fleetwood Town win their game in hand.

Anything other than a victory on Monday and Doncaster Rovers can begin to prepare for life in the fourth tier of English football, and they have failed to score in each of their last three away games - tallying a league-low 13 all season long - but they did edge a tight contest with Shrewsbury 1-0 at the Keepmoat Stadium back in December.

Team News

Shrewsbury midfielder Elliot Bennett had to be taken off after 37 minutes against Sunderland and left with his foot in a boot, so Joshua Daniels should deputise on the right-hand side for the hosts this week.

Defender Ethan Ebanks-Landell is still struggling with a knee injury and may miss out again, while David Davis continues his recovery from a serious ankle injury, but Cotterill is otherwise well-stocked for the meeting and will be loath to make many alterations after a strong midweek showing.

Meanwhile, Doncaster did not pick up any fresh fitness concerns in the recent defeat to Bolton, and Kyle Knoyle was fit enough to play the full 90 minutes despite suffering from cramp in the Crewe Alexandra win.

Kieran Agard, Fejiri Okenabirhie and Tom Anderson continue their respective rehabilitations from season-ending injuries, while Jon Taylor's ankle is still bedevilling him, and fresh legs will almost certainly be considered here.

Odubeko's goal as a substitute in Friday's defeat has put the West Ham United loanee in contention for a start in the forward area, while Ethan Galbraith - on loan from Manchester United - could force his way into the engine room.

Shrewsbury Town possible starting lineup:

Marosi; Pennington, Flanagan, Leahy; Daniels, Vela, Fornah, Whalley, Nurse; Bowman, Udoh

Doncaster Rovers possible starting lineup:

Mitchell; Knoyle, Williams, Olowu, Rowe; Galbraith, Bostock, Clayton; Odubeko, Griffiths, Martin

We say: Shrewsbury Town 1-0 Doncaster Rovers

Goals away from home have been a problem for Doncaster Rovers all season long, and even if they do manage to find their golden touch in Monday's game, results elsewhere could more or less seal their fate.

Shrewsbury performed valiantly against Sunderland on Good Friday and ought to feel confident about their chances of quelling the visitors' shot-shy attack, and we can envisage Cotterill's side getting the job done as Doncaster prepare for life in League Two.