Oxford United will be looking to add on last week’s 4-1 victory over Burton when the U’s travel to Shrewsbury.
It was important for Karl Robinson’s side to bounce back from their defeat against Portsmouth and they managed it in style against the Brewers with four first-half goals.
The result kept them in fourth spot in League One but all of their promotion rivals picked up maximum points on Tuesday night.
As for the Shrews, they are unbeaten in their last three games and have kept three successive clean sheets. However, before this recent resurgence, they had gone nine games without a win but did draw five of them.
Marcus Browne and Elliott Moore remained sidelined for the U’s, who will also be without striker Sam Baldock, but midfield duo James Henry and Billy Bodin could return. Robinson also confirmed there have been “a few cases of covid around the squad and staff.”
David Davis is absent for the hosts while Shaun Whalley is a doubt. Josh Vela is available following his suspension.
Matty Taylor reached 20 goals for the season against Burton while Gavin Whyte opened his U’s account.
For Shrewsbury, Daniel Udoh has 11, Ryan Bowman is on nine and left-back Luke Leahy has scored seven times.
Salop have recorded 11 clean sheets this season and have allowed just 35 goals – only Rotherham and Wigan have conceded fewer – but they have struggled to score goals with just 31 from 36 games The U’s are on eight clean sheets for the campaign and have conceded 12 more goals than their 17th placed opponents, but have scored 40 more goals.
Oxford are unbeaten in their previous seven meetings against Shrewsbury and have won the last four. The last three meetings at New Meadow have all ended in a 3-2 win for the U’s. Last season, the U’s came from 2-1 down while the season before, Robinson’s side were two goals down at halftime. Whyte also scored a hat trick in the other meeting, where Oxford once again won the game from a losing position.
Predicted line-up: Jack Stevens, Ciaron Brown, Sam Long, Luke McNally, Ryan Williams, Mark Sykes, Herbie Kane, Cameron Brannagan, Nathan Holland, Gavin Whyte, Matty Taylor.
Prediction: Shrewsbury Town 0-2 Oxford United
