Shrewsbury v Cambridge preview: Michael Appleton takes reins at home

The 2-0 home defeat to Burton Albion, who are relegation rivals, was a poor day for the club. 

But as it happened, it was Gareth Ainsworth's last game in charge after he walked out on Salop last week to join Gillingham. 

Shrewsbury have a new man in the dugout now, Michael Appleton, and he has had such a tough first week in post. 

A first game at St Andrew's last Saturday which his side lost 4-1, a takeover collapsing, and a visit to third-placed Wycombe Wanderers on Tuesday night which his side managed to get a draw in. 

Now Shrewsbury welcome fellow strugglers Cambridge to the Croud Meadow this weekend, they are the side who sit directly above them in the League One table having taken 32 points from 40 games, and this clash will be Appleton's first game at Town's Shropshire base. 

Heading into the game against the Us, who thrashed Shrewsbury 4-1 earlier in the season, the Town boss was pleased reflecting once more on Tuesday night's point. 

"I've seen two or three different sides of the team in a real positive manner," he said. "I was pleased they reacted from the weekend really well. And there were loads of positives to take from it, in possession and out of possession.

"You could tell in the dressing room afterwards that even though it was only a draw, we kept a clean sheet, and the players were absolutely delighted at the performance."

Vadaine Oliver scored in Town's loss at Blues at the weekend, and he was rewarded with a start at Adams Park. 

But unfortunately for him, he picked up an injury inside the opening 20 minutes of the clash, and he was replaced by Jordan Shipley. 

It was an ankle problem he picked up, and he looked incredibly disappointed as he slowly limped off down the tunnel. 

"If I'm being honest, he doesn't look great," he said. "The ankle's pretty big. Obviously, he's going to have to have a scan on it to get the full extent of how bad it is."

Harrison Biggins has missed out on the first two squads of Appleton's era in charge - that is also through injury - he is set to be out for some time. 

After a good point on Tuesday, aside from the enforced change, which will see Oliver drop out of the XI, you would expect the boss to select a similar team on Saturday. 

He named checked John Marquis and Josh Feeney in his post-match interview as being two players he was particularly impressed with on Tuesday night. 

But there were other good performers too. 

The busy period keeps on coming for Appleton and his men. They welcome Reading to the Croud Meadow just a few days after Cambridge and then make the trip to Lincoln not long after that before the Easter period and the final stretch of the season.