Made up of some of the younger members of the under-23s and the club’s older under-18 players, the Wolves team will be aiming to continue their unbeaten record at Montgomery Waters Meadow having got their group stages off to a positive start.
Collins’ side earned a penalty shootout bonus point after holding another League One side in Wigan Athletic to a goalless draw at the DW Stadium on the opening matchday.
Shrewsbury are currently sat bottom of the Northern Group C table, thanks to a 1-0 defeat at home to Crewe Alexandra back in August. They come into the game off the back of consecutive defeats in League One, with Steve Cotterill’s men sitting in the relegation zone with eight points from their opening 11 league matches.
The young Wolves side, who were unlucky to come away with just a point from a goalless draw with Premier League 2 Division 2 leaders Aston Villa on Friday evening, will finish the group stages on their travels at Crewe in early November.
Due to the Papa John’s Trophy being an EFL competition, we are unable to provide the usual live match stream for this evening’s visit to Shrewsbury.
However, supporters can follow @WolvesAcademy on Twitter for match updates, while reaction will also follow on wolves.co.uk.
WHEN
Tuesday, 7pm
WHERE
Montgomery Waters Meadow, Shrewsbury
LAST THREE
Wolves
0-0 vs Aston Villa (A)
1-3 vs Sunderland (H)
2-1 vs Fulham (H)
Shrewsbury
1-2 vs Bolton Wanderers* (A)
1-2 vs Wycombe Wanderers* (H)
2-1 vs AFC Wimbledon* (H)
*first-team opposition
WHAT THE BOSS THINKS
Having claimed two points from their opening match of the competition, head coach James Collins said he couldn’t have been prouder of his players.
“The young boys who came in held their end up – I doubted they could produce that, but I’ll learn from that because young players surprise you.
“I thought the senior boys around them, Lewis [Richards], Cundle, Moulden, they treated them brilliantly and they got what they deserved.
“I thought the boys did it to a man outstandingly. Wigan have got some good players and will be right up the top of that league this year – their manager was magnificent with me, they’re a great football club – so for our boys to come here, get the point and win the shootout is a great learning experience for them.
“Luke Cundle said to the boys at the end of the 90 that the penalty shootout didn’t matter, because he was so proud of our younger players. That really relaxed them for the shootout, only one missed and it was Lewis – he told me he was going to smash it down the middle, but he slipped.
“Louie made a great save and Kam [Kandola] took the last penalty really calmly and we won. To get that extra point, it isn’t the be all and end all, but it’s lovely to get that little advantage for the hard work they put in.”
NEXT FIVE
05/10 Shrewsbury Town* (A) PJT
18/10 Southampton (H)
20/10 Coventry United* (A) BSC
25/10 Newcastle United (A)
01/11 Stoke City (A)
*first-team opposition
