Lincoln City return to the LNER Stadium with a chance to relegate Shrewsbury Town.
The visitors arrive in Lincolnshire knowing that defeat will confirm their relegation to Sky Bet League Two, as the Imps play their penultimate home Saturday game of the term.
Opposition: Shrewsbury Town
The Salop currently find themselves 24th and bottom of the Sky Bet League One table, 13 points behind safety.
Former Imps head coach Michael Appleton returns to his old club at Sincil Bank on Saturday, who is Town’s third manager of this season. Paul Hurst and fellow former Imp Gareth Ainsworth were in post before Appleton to charge until the end of the season just a few weeks ago.
Shrewsbury have not tasted victory since February, when they picked up three points at Rotherham United. Since then, they have lost nine of their 12 fixtures.
Team News:
City could see the return of midfielder Ethan Erhahon, after the Scotsman has been sidelined since the turn of the year. Head coach Michael Skubala did admit that he would only make the bench and that he is not in contention to start.
On a more negative note, the recently awarded March League One player of the month Jovon Makama will not be seen playing again this season after picking up a hamstring injury.
Wide-man Dom Jefferies will also not be able to see out the rest of the season after going for a hip operation, which will leave the Welshman missing most of pre-season too.
As for Shrewsbury, boss Appleton did hint at potentially rotating his side, as relegation looms ever closer. The Shrewsbury manager said he is keen to give everyone the opportunity to stake a claim for the future, and many Salop supporters have been calling for forward Callum Stewart to get his first start.
Former Lincoln striker John Marquis is the club’s top goal scorer this season with eight to his name for the campaign, and is expected to lead the line on Saturday.
Head-to-head:
It is the visitors who have the better head-to-head record, over the course of the 56 occasions the two sides have met.
In the reverse fixture at New Meadow, Skubala’s side fell to a 1-0 defeat on Boxing Day. Morgan Feeney’s goal in the first-half was enough to separate the two sides.
Prior to the game, City had not conceded against Shrewsbury since 2022, so have found better form this decade.
Played for both:
Michael Appleton makes a return to the LNER Stadium after he managed the side that made the play-off final in 2021.
Midfielder Tom Bayliss was in the blue and orange of Shrewsbury at this stage last season, and made over 80 appearances for the club he joined in July 2022.
Shrewsbury striker John Marquis is no stranger to LN5 after he made 20 appearances, scoring five times in this period.