Shrewsbury Town's Graham Turner puzzled by Notts County plight

But there will be no room for sympathy when the teams meet at the Greenhous Meadow tomorrow, with both sides languishing at the wrong end of the division.

Town, who will tackle fellow strugglers Oldham at home on Tuesday, go into the clash sitting four places and two points above the drop zone having lost three of their last four games.

County, meanwhile, are four points adrift of safety having lost their last four matches in all competitions.

Turner said: "You look at clubs at the start of the season and we all start with a lot of optimism, having worked hard in pre-season and put together a squad of players that you think are good enough and it is surprising sometimes how things turn out.

"Notts County, with what they have in their squad, should and could be a reasonable side in League One.

"But who would have expected Bristol City to have struggled this season?

"So it happens and we are obviously disappointed with our own league position at the moment.

"But we have two games now, both against sides that are below us in the table, which are of absolutely paramount importance."

Town will be without midfielder Jon Taylor tomorrow because of a knee injury but Paul Parry is expected to be back in contention after missing the trip to Port Vale through illness.