Stat Attack: Shrewsbury Town v Notts County

In anticipation of tomorrow's game against 17th placed Shrewsbury Town away at Greenhous Meadow, here are some facts, trivia and statistics regarding the opposition, the fixture and who is expected to be playing for each team. These two teams have met quite regularly over the years – since 1961, the first fixture between the two, they've faced off 43 times. The Shrews hold the ever so slight upper edge, with 14 wins and 16 draws, while Notts have won 13 games.

Since 2005, Notts have played Shrewsbury every season bar 2010/11 and 2011/12. The longest period between meetings is eight years, between 21st December 1963 and 11th September 1971.

The Shrewsbury v Notts game on the 17^th April 1990 is believed to have been the genesis of the renowned “I Had A Wheelbarrow” chant. Shrewsbury were winning 2-0 and began singing a traditional American folk song, On Top Of Old Smoky, in celebration. This was sung in such a strong West Country accent that the Notts fans began singing back jokingly what they believed it sounded like, which was “I had a wheelbarrow, the wheel fell off”. Notts then pulled two goals back in the last ten minutes, and as such the chant was seen as a source of good luck, being sung by Notts fans ever since.

Until 1995, some English teams from cities not far from the Welsh border could play in the Welsh Cup, but winners would have to concede the subsequent European Cup Winners’ Cup place to the best-placed Welsh side as per league and European rules. As a result, Shrewsbury have a rather healthy trophy cabinet, having won the competition six times - 1985 was their last trophy victory - and finishing as runners-up thrice, making them the most successful non-Welsh side ever to compete in the Welsh cup!

Shrewsbury are known for one of the greatest giant killings of all time, as they defeated Premier League Everton in the FA Cup in January 2003. The Shropshire side, in Division 3 and free-falling towards relegation out of the Football League, beat the top tier side 2-1, no small feat against a team who, just a few months prior, broke a rampant Arsenal’s 30 game unbeaten run, courtesy of a young 16-year old prodigy by the name of Wayne Rooney.

Shrewsbury have scored 16 goals all season – a goal a game on average – while conceding 19. Their top scorer, Tom Bradshaw, has 5 goals to his name, followed by Liam McAlinden with 3. Other players, such as Joe Jacobson, Jon Taylor, and Aaron Wildig are capable of scoring, having each netted twice this season, so Notts need to be alert all across the field.

Aaron Wildig is also their midfield hard man, but frankly he isn't a patch on our Joss Labadie – 13 fouls to Labadie’s 61!

Jon Taylor, a potential threat, won’t be playing – he’s suffering from a knee injury. For Notts, meanwhile, Mark Fotheringham is suspended for this match following his fifth booking of the season against Wolves, but Danny Haynes and Dean Leacock are back following their suspensions.