Shrewsbury Town were forced to settle for a point following a goalless draw with Accrington Stanley.

Michael Appleton's side really should have taken all three points with Will Boyle, Callum Stewart and Luca Hoole all going close.

Stanley also carried a threat with former Salop youngster Charlie Caton seeing an effort cleared off the line.

Overall, though, it was Town who were the better side and who will be disappointed not to have claimed the victory.

Team news:

Boss Appleton opted for a 3-4-3 formation for the visit of Accrington - with new recruit Ismeal Kabia coming straight into the starting line-up.

Elyh Harrison continued in goal with Sam Stubbs, Tom Anderson and Boyle making up the back three.

Tom Sang and Sam Clucas got the nod at wing-back with Isaac England making his first league start for the club in central midfield alongside Taylor Perry.

In attack, Kabia started on the right with Stewart on the left and John Marquis through the middle.

Accrington lined up in a 3-4-1-2 system with former Town youngster Caton in the 10 role. Paddy Madden and Tyler Walton were the front two.

Report:

Both teams threatened in the opening 10 minutes with Boyle stinging the palms of goalkeeper Ollie Wright with a fierce strike from 20 yards.

At the other end, Harrison claimed well after Walton tried to catch him out with a curling strike from just inside the area.

It was Town, though, who - overall - were looking the brighter of the two teams.

And they twice came close to breaking the deadlock midway through the half.

First - following a huge scramble - Marquis managed to dig out a shot only to see the ball sail wide.

Appleton's men then went even closer when Sang whipped a wonderful delivery right into the danger area.

And that was missed by a defender with Stewart then turning it agonisingly wide at the back post.

For all Town's positivity, they almost fell behind on the half-hour mark when - following a corner - Clucas needed to head a Caton effort off the line.

Salop had their own effort cleared off the line shortly after the restart.

Marquis did really well to hold the ball up in the box and find Boyle who then looked to have guided the ball home.

But Charlie Brown made an incredible goal-line block to keep the ball out. 

Then just moments later, Kabia did well to enter the box and cut inside his man before seeing a low shot saved.

Town had comfortably been the better of the two teams following the interval.

Sang saw a free-kick saved by Ollie Wright while Marquis drove at goal before seeing a shot blocked.

And in the 81st minute, they had another glorious chance to open the scoring.

England's pass sent Clucas away down the left with the wing-back sending in a really dangerous cross.

Somehow, Stanley managed to get that away with the ball bobbling around the box.

And substitute Luca Hoole then drilled a powerful effort across the face of goal that nobody could tap home.

Stanley had been second best throughout the second half.

But they almost pinched it at the end when Harrison made a brilliant, reaction save to keep out a deflected cross.

Teams:

Shrewsbury: Harrison, Stubbs, Anderson, Boyle, Sang, Clucas, England, Perry, Kabia (Hoole 79), Marquis, Stewart. 

Subs not used: Brook, Nsiala, Benning, Biggins, Gray.

Accrington: Wright, Love, Sass, Madden, Sinclair, Ward, Bauress, Matthews, Caton, Brown (Henderson 59), Walton. 

Subs not used: Kelly, Mooney, Pye, Popoola, Smith, Connelly.

Attendance: 4,795