There is a huge game at the top of League Two on Monday evening as two sides with automatic promotion ambitions go head-to-head when Crawley Town travel to take on Shrewsbury Town at the Prostar Stadium.

Steve Evans’ Crawley side (11/4 League Two Outright), who were pre-season favourites to walk through the division following their promotion from the Conference, have encountered a blip in form of late, which has resulted in the side slipping from the summit of League Two to fifth spot

However they do have between two and four games in hand on the teams above them – including Monday night’s opponents Shrewsbury (12/1 Outright) who sit in fourth position and a point better off – due to their recent run to the fifth round of the FA Cup.

Evans, who will hope his men can recapture the form which brought them 10 wins and two draws from 12 games in the final three months of 2011, should have Hope Akpan available while Kyle McFadzean will again deputise for broken foot victim David Hunt at right-back.

But their work will be cut out to secure maximum points in Shropshire and improve a recent run of just two wins from nine matches. Crawley have won five on the road this season, but only one away-day success has come in six games against top-10 opponents.

And Shrewsbury, being one of the strongest home teams in League Two with 11 wins and three draws from their 14 outings in front of their own fans to date, will represent one of the sternest tests that the Red Devils could have come up against.

Graham Turner’s side, who will be without striker Tom Bradshaw due to a Wales Under-21 call-up but hope to have left-back Joe Jacobson fit from the groin injury suffered at Swindon last midweek, have won all six matches at home to top-half rivals so far so will be very confident of seeing off Crawley.

A repeat of Crawley’s 2-1 win from the fixture between these two sides at Broadfield Stadium earlier in the season would be the perfect tonic for Evans’ side. However, the Shrews will look at Crawley’s tendency to ship goals when they do lose, as they have conceded three or more goals in four of their five defeats this season, to give them hope of a crucial win.

Crawley have not scored in only four of their 29 matches this season so we expect goals, but Shrewsbury appear to be the best bet to shade a closely fought encounter.

Prediction: Home Win 90 Minutes @ 7/5
Value Bet: Shrewsbury Town To Win 2-1 Correct Score @ 17/2

Want £200 Free? Click here to visit Bet365 and claim your free money.