Shrewsbury 0 Fleetwood 0 - Report and pictures

The goalless clash had the feel of a January 1 hangover as Sam Ricketts’ Salop created few clear-cut opportunities with the visitors happily settled for a point.

Neither side mustered any attempts to stretch the opposition goalkeeper as supporters were treated to a snoozy opening to the year.

Town did stretch their unbeaten home record to nine games in all competitions but Ricketts will have looked for more from his players to take all three points.

Shrews did climb to 16th but are now just three points off the League One drop zone as the chasing pack continue to make up ground.

Ricketts was searching for the type Shrewsbury consistency that would bring more of the impressive displays like that in front of a bumper crowd at Sunderland.

He shuffled his pack for the visit of Joey Barton’s Fleetwood. Ricketts reverted to the 4-4-2 diamond, as has been used for most of his tenure, as strikers Aaron Amadi-Holloway and Fejiri Okenabirhie were recalled.

Lenell John-Lewis and Alex Gilliead dropped to the bench.

Town boasted an encouraging home record, unbeaten in eight in all competitions, with four wins from their last five league games.

Meanwhile, the Cod Army went into the clash on the back of six straight away league defeats, as well as a 5-2 home thumping by Portsmouth on Saturday.

Without starting explosively, the hosts - boosted by a decent home crowd - looked comfortably the more composed side.

Amadi-Holloway was showing no signs of the festive bug that made him miss the trip to the Stadium of Light. He was dominating the Fleetwood defence in the early stages.

Shrewsbury were not creating the goalscoring opportunities that their control merited, but everything good in their attacking play was coming off ex-Fleetwood man Amadi-Holloway.

His knockdown for Okenabirhie’s fierce half-volley from the edge of the box was Town’s first effort of note on 20 minutes.

Fleetwood threatened from a Ross Wallace corner as skipper Craig Morgan’s header was almost diverted in before the same man shot at Arnold from distance.

Fleetwood took the initiative as Town’s purposeful start petered out and the visitors began to pen Shrews in, as Ricketts’ men struggled to clear their lines.

Murmurs began to emerge from the stands as the home side struggled to grab a foothold.

Just then, after the half hour mark, Town broke through Amadi-Holloway and he smartly released the unmarked Josh Laurent on the left side of the box but his rising shot flew over the top.

But Ricketts’ men could not build on that decent opening as the first half continued in similarly forgettable style.

The hosts were struggling to clear their lines at times and encouraging Fleetwood to attack, but Barton’s men were, at times, unwilling to show any attacking intent of their own.

Ricketts could see his side required an injection of positivity at the break and he summoned flying winger Gilliead to replace the assured midfield battler of Anthony Grant.

With Gilliead out on the right flank, Okenabirhie out to the left and Amadi-Holloway down the centre, Town were looking to use wide areas more effectively.

And, within minutes, a good chance down the right for the unlikely figure of James Bolton was Town’s reward.

Latching on to a deep Ryan Haynes cross, the right-back skimmed a low shot from an extremely tight angle across the untested Alex Cairns’ goal.

Like the beginning of the first half Town looked bright but Ricketts was prompted in another early change as he brought off Amadi-Holloway for Lee Angol just 10 minutes after the break.

That change paid dividends almost instantly as Angol flicked a smart ball on to Okenabirhie in the box but the striker hesitated a split second and a super Lewie Coyle block denied the top scorer.

Town fans attempted to liven proceedings by encouraging their side on but too often the final product was poor from Salop.

Gilliead was one in blue and amber looking to make a difference. The winger broke superbly and lashed a low left footed effort inches wide despite taking a clattering at the same time.

The crowd again grew frustrated as Shrews were unable to profit from a couple of breaks as the final ball broke down.

Waterfall, who made a number of key clearances late on as Fleetwood showed signs of life, almost had a chance on goal but was blocked after a Bolton flick.

Town worked hard to get to the byline and send balls in but looked half a yard from a telling touch.

The crowd screamed for handball with 10 minutes left after an arm blocked Bolton’s cross in the box.

Arnold, who had not been called into action at all in the uninspiring 90 minutes, saved his side at the death by bravely lunging at Wes Burns’ feet.

But despite Ricketts barking orders at his side from the touchline, Town could not come up with any answers and had to settle for just the point.

Teams

Shrewsbury Town (4-4-2 diamond):

Arnold; Bolton, Waterfall, Sadler ©, Haynes; Grant (Gilliead, 45), Docherty, Norburn, Laurent; Okenabirhie, Amadi-Holloway (Angol, 55).

Subs not used: Coleman (gk), Sears, Beckles, Emmanuel, John-Lewis.

Fleetwood Town (4-4-2):

Cairns; Coyle, Eastham, Morgan ©, Husband; Burns, J Wallace (Sheron, 79), Biggins. R Wallace (Hunter, 71); Evans (McAleny, 79). Madden.

Subs not used: Jones (gk), Holt, Dempsey, Bolger.

Referee: Alan Young

Attendance: 5,919 (109 Fleetwood fans)