Our prediction for this League 1 match:
High-flying Ipswich Town will look to extend their winning run to six games when they take on Shrewsbury Town at Portman Road. The Tractor Boys have been scoring goals for fun of late, and they are likely to stick to their attacking style of play. Barring any fresh injury worries, Kieran McKenna is unlikely to make changes to the team that defeated Bolton at the weekend. A man to watch in the home team will be top scorer Conor Chaplin, who has netted 16 goals so far this term.
The Shrews, on the other hand, aim to build on a 3-1 win over Morecambe, but given their four-game winless run on the road, anything but a routine home win would be a big sensation. Steve Cotterill is likely to field the same starting XI that defeated the Shrimps on Matchday 36.
Highlighted Player (Richard Keogh):
Richard Keogh is an English player, who has a deal with Derby County. The 188-cm-tall defender started his senior career in 2004 as he signed for Stoke City, but he was immediately sent on loan to Vikingur. After making nine appearances for the Icelandic club, he joined Bristol City in 2005.
Keogh made his Bristol City debut on 3 September, 2005 in a goalless draw with Colchester United. The Derby County defender then spent several seasons on loan at Wycombe, Huddersfield, Carlisle and Cheltenham before signing a permanent deal with Carlisle. Richard Keogh signed a three-year deal with Coventry City and he made 46 appearances for the club in the 2010/2011 Championship campaign.
Keogh played 45 games for Coventry in the 2011/2012 season and on July 2012 he joined Derby County. The defender made 178 appearances for the Rams until the 2016/2017 Championship campaign and he netted one goal for the iPro Stadium outfit. Keogh made his Republic of Ireland debut on 6 February, 2013 in a friendly game against Poland.
Highlighted Team (Shrewsbury):
Based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, Shrewsbury Town are a professional club that play home games at New Meadow stadium, the venue which was opened in 2007 and has the capacity of 10,361. Shrewsbury Town were founded back in 1886, with some reports indicating the club was established at the Lion Hotel.
The Blues wear blue shirts with yellow stripe and blue shorts when playing at home, whilst the colour of their away kit is purple. Mickey Brown holds the club record for most appearances as he played 190 games for the club, scoring 9 goals in the league. Both Wolverhampton and Walsall are regarded as the club’s fiercest rivals, but there have always been fireworks in matches between Shrewsbury Town and Hereford United as well.
The two teams face each other in the “A49 derby” and it has to be noted that the Blues have built rivalries with Chester City and Wrexham as well.