Five areas for Shrewsbury Town to come out on top in the Checkatrade Trophy final

Town reporter Lewis Cox looks at five key areas where the trophy could be won or lost.

1 Coping without Abu Ogogo

News that Town’s skipper will be out for the rest of the season as he requires knee surgery was a hammer blow – but one Shrewsbury will have to rise above.

Shrews won two out of three league games without their suspended captain. Paul Hurst was glad his side could sample a winning feeling without their inspirational midfield leader.

But Ogogo’s presence in the middle of the park will be a huge loss. He leads by example and regularly leads the charge in Town’s relentless pressing and harrying.

Bryn Morris is likely to come in and replace Ogogo. A different type of central midfielder, Shrews will look to play to Morris’s strengths which are, undeniably, his range of passing.

Hopefully Morris can spread the ball well and dictate play on Wembley’s large surface. Town will want to win it for their stricken skipper.

2 Stifle a key part of the Imps’ armoury

While comfortable in possession and, like Town, a hard-working and energetic side, there is no doubt that Danny Cowley’s side possess real ability from set-pieces.

Central to that is experienced full-back Neal Eardley. The 29-year-old former Blackpool and Birmingham man has been Lincoln’s Mr Consistent this season and knows how to deliver wicked crosses into the opposition box.

Town’s wingers will do a crucial job in backing up their full-backs and stopping ammunition into the box, where the Imps have some hefty forwards, should they opt to play them from the off.

Hurst was extremely complimentary on Lincoln’s style, and the way in which Lincoln vary their set-pieces. He knows City have a style that works and will ask questions of his side.

3 Use the big pitch

One of the game’s clichés is that Wembley has a big pitch. It is, however, the same size surface as Town’s Montgomery Waters Meadow – 105 x 68m.

Nonetheless, the pitch will surely still feel big to the players. Both sets of players will surely be feeling the miles as the clock winds down in the latter stages of the high-octane clash.

Wembley finals always seem to offer space. Space down the flanks as well as that bit more time in the middle of the park. Shrewsbury will look to utilise that.

If wingers Shaun Whalley and Alex Rodman are at their flying best, they can really take advantage of the space offered to them down the flanks. Midfielders Ben Godfrey and Jon Nolan love to carry the ball at speed into open space.

Bryn Morris has the ability to pass the ball 70 yards and that could be crucial.

4 A solid defensive unit

Town’s stunning League One campaign has been built on a watertight defence, the second-meanest in the third tier.

They have uncharacteristically shipped five goals in the last two games, which may or may not be down to losing influential defender Toto Nsiala to injury for the first time this season.

It is unclear whether Nsiala will feature. The defender may play with a protective face mask. Some supporters have suggested it worth resting the powerful defender, but surely Hurst will want his best players out playing in a final.

If Nsiala plays then Shrewsbury, with Omar Beckles at left-back, James Bolton on the right and Mat Sadler in the centre, will have the familiar four that have denied many a frontline this term. If Nsiala misses out, chances are Max Lowe may get the shot at left-back with Beckles central. Either way, they will be tested.

5 Quieten Lincoln fans down as early as possible

There will be double the number of Lincoln fans to Town at Wembley so it is imperative that Shrewsbury do not allow the Imps faithful to dominate the atmosphere.

A fast start from Hurst’s men will go some way to silencing the circa 30,000 City fans.

While Town are expected to have around 12 or 13,000 at Wembley, they will have to make the double the noise and ensure it does not feel like the match is being played in front of a Sincil Bank crowd.

Support is not wholly determined by the number of fans. If Town followers can be on their A-game – and are given something to get excited about by Hurst’s men – then they can make enough noise to make their players feel very much at home.

For the 90 minutes Town players will need all the backing they can get to become Wembley heroes.