Match Report | Fleetwood 2-0 Shrewsbury

Shrewsbury Town fell to defeat at Fleetwood.

Goals from Ronan Coughlan and Aaron Loupalo-Bi won it for the hosts on what was a cruel afternoon for anyone of a Salop persuasion.

Gavin Cowan's side more than matched their opponents over the course of the 90 minutes and were the better side for long spells.

But they couldn't find that bit of quality when it mattered with the hosts finding a way to convert their chances while Town's came and went.

Team news:

Gavin Cowan opted to shuffle his pack for the trip to Highbury Stadium - with the boss making four changes from the team that took on Rochdale on Tuesday.

Arkell Jude-Boyd, Sam Stubbs and George Lloyd all returned while Kian McMahon-Brown made his full debut in what was a 3-4-1-2 formation.

It saw Will Brook continue in goal with Luca Hoole, Will Boyle and Stubbs making up the back three.

Jude-Boyd operated at right wing-back with Kevin Berkoe on the left with Will Gray and Tom Sang the midfield two.

McMahon-Brown operated move advanced in the number 10 role with Lloyd and Josh Davison up front.

Fleetwood lined up in a 3-5-2 formation with Will Davies partnered by Ronan Coughlan in attack.

Report:

It was Town who started the brighter of the two teams on the Fylde coast - with Cowan's men creating their first chance inside the opening 10 minutes.

After Jude-Boyd was fouled, Sang whipped in a free-kick that Lloyd nodded down and towards goal.

That prompted a frantic scramble in the Fleetwood six-yard box - with the hosts just doing to clear their lines.

Salop threatened again in the 18th minute - when Lloyd did brilliantly to nod down a long diagonal forward.

Davison latched onto that with the striker hitting a low effort from just inside the box that was claimed by goalkeeper Jay Lynch.

Fleetwood had their first chance just before the half-hour mark - Adam Murphy seeing an effort from 20 yards well claimed by Brook.

Town had comfortably been the better team.

But in the 39th minute the hosts got themselves ahead following a corner which was given after Brook was judged to have held onto the ball for too long.

That delivery came in - and despite it looking like Davison was fouled - Coughlan was able to turn the ball home with his knee.

Salop were appealing for a penalty early into the second half when Jude-Boyd raced into the box before being hacked down.

However, referee Ed Duckworth felt the the challenge was fair and only gave a corner.

With his side pressing for an equaliser, Cowan made his first chance in the 66th minute - with Joe Gbode replacing Davison.

Fleetwood went close to doubling their lead shortly after - Lewis McCann firing inches wide from the edge of the box.

Town continued to be on top. But with time running out, Cowan made a triple change with Isaac Fletcher, Michael Goulding and Lino Sousa replacing Lloyd, Berkoe and Sang.

But despite Town's best efforts, the hosts grabbed a second when Ched Evans sent in a cross that Aaron Loupalo-Bi managed to turn in with the help of a huge deflection.

Teams:

Fleetwood: Lynch, Andrew (Cirino), Neal, Potter, Bennett, Davies (Evans 57), Helm (Haughey 81), McCann, Murphy (Mclean 65), Coughlan (Loupalo-Bi 65), Rooney.

Subs not used: Pradic, Haughey, Robertson.

Shrewsbury: Brook, Hoole, Boyle, Stubbs, Jude-Boyd, Sang (Golding 83), Gray (Turner-Cooke 73), Berkoe (Sousa 83), McMahon-Brown, Lloyd (Fletcher 83), Davison (Gbode 65).

Subs not used: Proctor, Lee.

Attendance: 2,698 (267 away).