- Team form: Fleetwood Town are unbeaten in their last 5 matches, W2, D3.
- Opposition form: Shrewsbury Town have won 1 of their last 5, D1, L3.
Cup matchup in Fleetwood
Form and recent results
Fleetwood will feel they have a chance in the EFL Cup against League Two Shrewsbury on Tuesday after recording back-to-back wins to extend their unbeaten run to five. Matt Lawlor's men beat Chesterfield 1-0 in the EFL Cup last round and followed that up with another 1-0 success at the weekend in the league away at the Proact Stadium.
Tactical outlook
The Cod Army have shown themselves to be adaptable and dangerous on the counter attack when opponents have been forced to press them. They have looked more potent in transition than when they have had to try and break through a deep block in the last couple of games and Shrewsbury are a team that could pin Fleetwood back and leave themselves exposed if they are unable to get their pressing strategy to pay off.
Shrews have been fragile on the road
Gavin Cowan's Shrewsbury have been pressing with energy, but don't appear to have enough quality in the final third to get the best out of the 3-4-1-2 system they operate with their wing-backs. Shrewsbury's defence has been leaking goals, shipping 1.67 per away match on average across all competitions, while they are scoring an average of 1.00 per away game.
Fleetwood have conceded eight in five home matches in all competitions, which tells us the hosts will be opened up at some point in the game. Shrewsbury have only scored once themselves and Fleetwood look the sharper side right now so the hosts should just about edge a close game.
Lawlor’s fleet-footed Fleetwood can edge it
The Cod Army are priced up at a slight favorite with the bookmakers at 2.04 for this contest, but we feel they have the edge with Shrewsbury priced at 3.55 and the draw 3.35.
We will take the underdog price on the away side because the market doesn't look good for our main selection, but it does look like this could be a cup match and a close one at that.
- Under 2.5 goals at 1.8 and Both Teams to Score Yes at 1.8 are the obvious starting points for this one, but we will chance Fleetwood's momentum by taking the double chance bet, as they should have enough to avoid defeat.
- Fleetwood drew 2-2 with Shrewsbury in the League Two matchup and the last two head-to-heads have seen Fleetwood win one and draw the other, which also points to a low-scoring draw as the most likely outcome.
- Ched Evans is Fleetwood's danger man, having scored two of the club's four goals in their five-game unbeaten run, and he could give them a sharp edge up top if Shrewsbury are not careful.
