Match Report | Crawley 0-0 Shrewsbury

Town came away from the Broadfield Stadium with a point after playing out a goalless draw with Crawley Town.

Matt Cox pushed away the best chance of the first half after Harry Forster sent a low drive towards goal.

George Lloyd agonisingly put the ball over from inside the penalty area as either side were unable to get on the scoresheet.

Team news:

Gavin Cowan made one change as his side lined-up in a 3-4-1-2 shape.

Cox started in goal with Isaac Lee, who made his Shrewsbury debut, Will Boyle and Josh Ruffels in defence.

Wing-backs Ismeal Kabia and Kevin Berkoe flanked Taylor Perry and Will Gray in the centre of midfield.

Iwan Morgan slotted into the number ten position; Bradley Ihionvien and John Marquis led the line.

Crawley’s Colin Kazim-Richards opted for the 4-4-2 formation that saw Harry McKirdy and Tobi Adeyemo as the two strikers.

Report:

The first 20 minutes of the contest saw very few opportunities created.

Crawley fired a few crosses into the area as they aimed for the heads of the strikers, but Cox was on-hand to continuously claim the ball.

Perry tried his luck from distance on the half-volley which fell into the arms of Jacob Chapman.

The best chance of the opening half fell to the hosts just after the half hour mark.

Forster’s drilled effort from the edge of the area forced Cox to palm the ball away from danger.

Debutant Lee made a number of impressive defensive contributions during his first 45 minutes of EFL football.

The defender provided an important block to deny Tobi Adeyemo from close-range.

Salop made a change at the break as Tom Sang replaced Ihionvien.

An early chance fell the way of Marquis, but he couldn’t direct his header on-target.

Cox was called into action in the 57^th minute.

The shot-stopper saved with his legs from Lewis Richards’ low goal-bound effort.

With a quarter of an hour left, a golden chance fell to substitute Lloyd.

Morgan’s cut-back found the striker before he sent his 12-yard effort just over the crossbar.

Both teams looked to sneak a late winner but it was the home side that came closest.

Four minutes into added time, Louie Watson’s snapshot rolled along the ground and hit the base of the post.

Corners at either end failed to produce any goals as the game ended in a stalemate.

Crawley Town: Chapman (GK), Ade Adeyemo, Barker, Malone, Lewis Richards (Pereira 77), Forster, Williams © (Taylor Richards 77), Copley, Watson, McKirdy (Russell 72), Tobi Adeyemo (Loft 70).

Subs not used: Wollacott, Odimayo.

Away Team: Cox (GK), Lee (Anderson 76), Boyle, Ruffels, Kabia, Gray (Scully 70), Perry (Freeman 76), Berkoe, Morgan, Ihionvien (Sang 46), Marquis © (Lloyd 70).

Subs not used: Brook, Stubbs.

Attendance: 3,602