New Shrewsbury Town era faces first away test at Colchester United

Salop were hard to beat, difficult to break down, and showed fight and desire in abundance during Gavin Cowan's first game in charge.

Cowan admitted the draw against Barnet was not a spectacle, but it represented a step in the right direction and a useful building block after just two days of preparation.

Now, following a full week on the training pitch, Cowan faces his first away test with a Shrewsbury side who currently boast the worst away record in League Two.

Salop have lost their last four away league matches, conceding 10 goals in that run - including five in the heavy defeat at MK Dons - while scoring just twice in return.

Shrewsbury, who sit three points clear of the relegation zone, travel to a Colchester United side who have also lost their last two league matches, both 1-0, and will be eager to arrest their own slide.

Salop will also be hoping for a very different spectacle to the reverse fixture at the Meadow in August, when Tommy McDermott was sent off and Town lost 2-0 after conceding twice in the second-half.

As he looks to end a 10-game winless run away from home in the league, Cowan has stressed the importance of avoiding slow starts.

Speaking upon his arrival, Cowan said: "We've got two positions in most parts of the pitch. I'll have very different ideas to the previous management, which is fine. 

"But we need to get the balance right, we need to be hard to beat. 

"We're too easy to really put to bed. You saw that at MK Dons, we were 3-0 down after 34 minutes. That isn't a game. 

"It's a hard task to go there, but to be down after that amount of time...number one, the players need to be accountable for themselves, and two, we need to put in a game strategy where we don't let that happen."

Cowan opted for experience in his first match in charge, naming just one of Shrewsbury's January loanees, with goalkeeper Matt Cox impressing between the posts.

Salop were resolute against Barnet, offering strong resistance to sustained pressure and looking to hit on the counter, and it will be interesting to see whether Cowan adopts a similar approach for his first trip as Town boss.

Kevin Berkoe could make his debut after becoming Shrewsbury’s seventh signing of the January transfer window on deadline day. Both player and manager have spoken about his versatility, which could offer Cowan valuable options.

If spirits were lifted by Cowan's opening match, then a first away league win since September 6 this weekend would provide a significant boost in confidence and morale.

"I think the players now are optimistic, they want to do well," Cowan said after his first game in charge. "They realise that we've got a foundation to try and work from.

"They've worked so hard, and isn't that what everyone wanted? Everyone wanted to see them working hard, working for the badge, and that was the big thing. 

"They know that we need to change and be better. We can't play like that all season, but once we get that bit right, we can start to move forward and build on it."

The clash will be one of 36 matches in the Football League to kick-off one minute later than scheduled. The initiative aims to raise awareness for the British Heart Foundation's Every Minute Matters campaign.

The campaign has already inspired more than 400,000 people to start learning CPR since it launched in May 2024.

Predicted Shrewsbury Town XI: Cox; Hoole, Stubbs, Boyle, Ruffels, Benning; Freeman, Clucas; Perry; Marquis, Lloyd 

Subs: Brook, Anderson, Sang, McDermott, Scully, Kabia, Morgan

Predicted Colchester United XI: Macey; Back, Tucker, Arauja, Hunt; Barbrook, Gape; Lisbie, Payne, Edwards; Goodwin

Big match prediction: Draw