Lowe expects tough test against winless Shrews

RYAN Lowe is expecting ‘a tough competitive game’ when Plymouth Argyle take on Steve Cotterill’s winless Shrewsbury Town at the Montgomery Waters Meadow today.

Shrewsbury are one of a trio of clubs in League One still to pick up a point, along with Fleetwood Town and Doncaster Rovers.

Lowe is not reading anything into that, though, and insisted the Pilgrims would pay Shrewsbury ‘massive respect’.

“I’m expecting a tough competitive game,” said the Pilgrims’ boss, who started his professional career as a striker with a five-year stint at Shrewsbury.

“Steve Cotterill gets a team well organised. He isn’t going to pull no punches, he’s going to want to get his first win at home in front of the fans.

“What we have got to do is go there and do what we do, play our football, create plenty of chances and hopefully put some balls in the back of the net.”

Shrewsbury began their league campaign with a 1-0 home defeat to Burton Albion in front of a crowd of close to 6,000. They have followed that with away defeats against newly-promoted Morecambe (2-0) and Portsmouth (1-0).

Lowe said: “I know they have lost the last three but that means nothing because anyone can beat anyone in this league.

“We will pay Shrewsbury massive respect. We will go there in good spirits and confident that we can get a result.”

Shrewsbury completed the season-long loan signing of 21-yearold South African born attacking midfielder Khanya Leshabela from Leicester City on Thursday.

Argyle’s only away league game so far this season was on the opening day of the campaign and ended in a 2-0 defeat at Rotherham United, so they will hope for better fortunes on their trip to Shropshire.

Jordon Garrick is expected to be included in the Pilgrims’ squad for the first time after moving from Swansea City on a season-long loan on Thursday.

There is also a chance that George Cooper could be included among the substitutes after his return to training this week following knee surgery in January.