Shrewsbury v Derby preview: Salop set for testing time as the Rams roll into town

It will be a good indication of whether this Salop team has turned a corner or not against good opposition before making the trip to Barnsley on Tuesday night – another big test.

Goals have been at a premium this season, with Shrews scoring just six times in their 12 League One games, but they have been defensively resolute.

A recent win against Northampton and a late equaliser against Cambridge could lead some to believe the team has turned a corner after they failed to win in almost six weeks before that. But it is, perhaps, more of an exercise of time that will demonstrate if this is the case. A couple of positive results will not be the determining factors.

It will be consistent good performances, goals and results over an extended period.

In terms of the team for this game, you would expect Jason Sraha to keep his place on the left side of the back three after his excellent performance last weekend.

Brandon Fleming will most likely move back to left wing-back as Nohan Kenneh returns from international duty – but it is a tougher choice of who will come in to start up front with Dan Udoh.

Town boss Matt Taylor said it has been a good week of training on the back of a positive display at Abbey Stadium.

“It’s been good to have a full week with the players to digest what happened last weekend,” said Taylor.

“I must say I felt, watching the game back, we were more dominant, we kept the ball better, we made better decisions in the middle of the pitch and we built with a better structure.

“What we have tried to do this week is add layers to that while getting the physical work into the players that they need.

“It’s been a really positive week. We have been on the grass for three days. I thought the weather might catch us out but it didn’t.

“Overall, it’s been a really positive week. The main thing is that we carry all that good work into the weekend for what is going to be another difficult game.”

The Rams have had an indifferent start to the season. They lost three of their opening six League One games, but have found a bit of form of late, going unbeaten in their last five.

They drew 1-1 against Cheltenham last time out and they are currently the only side to have conceded against the Robins all season in league action.

Town were linked with striker James Collins in the summer and he has had a fruitful start to the league season with his five goals.

Martyn Waghorn rejoined Derby in the summer, and he has scored six times already this campaign which, as previously mentioned, is the amount Town’s whole team have scored.