Shropshire Star

At your leisure for Shrewsbury Town's Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro

Sheffield United need to be on their guard if Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro plays tonight and Shrewsbury Town are kicking towards the Salop Leisure Stand.

Published

All the Frenchman's four goals at Greenhous Meadow this season have come at his 'favourite' end.

And he admits the home end behind the goal is a lucky one for him after his equalising header against Bradford on Saturday.

Akpa Akpro said: "It's true – I scored at that end twice against Blackpool, one against Sheffield Wednesday and then on Saturday.

"It was the same when I was at Tranmere, I always used to score at the same end so I guess it's my lucky end."

Sheffield United brings back happy memories for Town fans as they bid to complete the double after winning 4-2 at Bramall Lane in arguably their best performance of the season.

And Akpa Akpro, who came on as a late substitute for Larnell Cole that night, has targeted a return to winning ways.

The Shrews got their survival bid back on track with a draw on Saturday after two defeats, with Town six games without a win.

He said: "Now we need a solid performance and a win because we had a good run then two defeats and a draw and a good point.

"We need to get back on track by playing some good football to get the confidence going again."

The Blades' 3-0 derby win at Chesterfield on Saturday has left them ninth, six points off the play-offs with four games left.

Yet Akpa Akpro would prefer to play against a side with something to play for than a team whose season is dead.

He added: "It's more dangerous to play against a team with nothing to play for, because they're more relaxed and thinking 'let's enjoy it.'

"In this league, you have to be careful about every team whether or not they have something to play for. It's very tight – games are decided by one defensive mistake."

Town are two points clear of the drop zone and Akpa Akpro admits there is no margin for error.

He said: "Before we played Doncaster they were maybe five or six points away from the relegation zone, but since then they have dropped and dropped.

"Blackpool were in front of us and are behind us, so you never know.It shows how important Saturday's point was and it's in our hands.

"We have to carry on like this and try to get safe before the last game of the season."

Akpa Akpro made his first start in nine games as Kyle Vassell was the odd man out of the six loan players on Saturday.

The Frenchman admitted he was surprised to start – but now wants to nail down a place. It was a surprise but I was happy to get back in the team. Now it's up to me to stay there."