Shrewsbury v Northampton: Salop seek to close the gap on the Cobblers
Shrewsbury Town have given their fans hope with their last two results - and victory against Northampton could leave them in touching distance.
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If you rewind a week, Shrews went to The Brick Community Stadium after back-to-back thrashings against Cambridge and Wycombe - which both finished 4-1.
The gap to 20th place was 10 points. But a brave display in Greater Manchester on Saturday and brilliant backs-to-the-wall defensive performance against play-off hopefuls Lincoln on Boxing Day have since seen Salop slash that to six points.
The team they trail is Northampton, and they are up next for Gareth Ainsworth's men, having won just one of their last 10 matches.
They have a new manager, Kevin Nolan, in the dugout, but he watched his side get thrashed 4-1 by Reading on Boxing Day.
If Salop can achieve back-to-back wins, something they have not done since early in 2023, then they will be just three points behind the Cobblers with survival very much back on the agenda.
Ainsworth had never given up hope, but when you are so far adrift so early in a season, it is difficult to remain optimistic.
