Six talking points from another difficult afternoon for Shrewsbury Town

Five games into the new League Two season: just two goals scored and 10 conceded.

It is not the start anybody at Shrewsbury Town wanted. Here are some notebook thoughts after their 2-0 defeat at Fleetwood Town.

Sam Stubbs

Sam Stubbs returned to action for Shrewsbury, going straight back into the starting XI after recovering from concussion.

His return came with Josh Ruffels absent after jarring his knee during Town’s midweek defeat at Rochdale. Gavin Cowan praised Stubbs’ contribution afterwards.

Lee over Anderson

There has been plenty of discussion around Isaac Lee’s omission in recent weeks. The young defender returned to the matchday squad at Fleetwood but did not feature, while Tom Anderson was absent after starting Town’s previous two games.

Away woes

This was Shrewsbury’s fifth away game in their opening seven matches of the season.

They have now failed to score in each of their last five away league games.

Since the start of last season, meanwhile, Shrewsbury have lost more League Two away games than any other side - 18 in total - including all three of their away matches this season.

The first blow

Town had kept Fleetwood at bay for most of the first half, but a costly error shortly before the break changed the game.

Will Brook was deemed to have held onto the ball for more than the permitted time, resulting in a corner which Fleetwood capitalised on.

Town were beaten at the back post before the ball was headed across the six-yard box, leaving Ronan Coughlan unmarked to fire home.

Late second

Luca Hoole will be frustrated with the second goal after being beaten on the byline, allowing Fleetwood to deliver into the area and land the decisive blow.

Aaron Loupalo-Bi’s effort took a deflection off Sam Stubbs on its way past Brook, but it was another goal that came too easily for Town.

Lack of chances

Shrewsbury worked the ball into promising areas regularly, but they lacked the cutting edge to seriously test Jay Lynch.

The forwards were offered few clear opportunities and, when chances did arrive, Town could not capitalise.

Salop have scored just twice in their opening five league games. For all the passages of possession, the more pressing issue is where the goals are going to come from.