A classic West Midlands clash takes place today, Saturday, January 10, 2026, as Wolverhampton Wanderers host Shrewsbury Town in the FA Cup Third Round. Kick-off was at 12:15 GMT at Molineux Stadium.
While the two clubs are currently separated by three divisions, this fixture has a history of being far closer than league status suggests. Wolves are looking to build on a recent upturn in Premier League form, while "Salop" is aiming for a historic upset to ignite their League Two campaign.
Match Details: Kick-off & Official Info
Competition: FA Cup (Third Round)
Date: Saturday, January 10, 2026
Kick-off: 12:15 GMT / 07:15 ET
Venue: Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton
Referee: Stephen Martin
Broadcast: ESPN+ (US), BBC Sport (Highlights/Radio)
The Storyline: Top-Flight Survival vs. League Two Grit
Wolves: Turning the Corner?
Rob Edwards’ Wolves side enters the cup on their best run of the season, currently unbeaten in three Premier League matches—including a dominant 3–0 win over West Ham and a gritty 1–1 draw at Everton. The spotlight is on 18-year-old sensation Mateus Mane, who has scored in back-to-back top-flight games and is quickly becoming the "shining light" in a difficult season for the Old Gold.
Shrewsbury: Searching for the "Replay" Magic
Shrewsbury Town, currently struggling in the bottom half of League Two, arrives as massive underdogs. However, manager Michael Appleton knows that his club has forced Wolves into a replay in both of their last two FA Cup meetings (1979 and 2019). Despite a 3–0 loss to Bristol Rovers to start the year, the Shrews will be motivated by a sell-out away following and the return of Wolves academy graduate Taylor Perry to Molineux.
Team News & Probable Lineups
Wolves Team News
Injury Boost: Rodrigo Gomes is back in the squad after injury. Ladislav Krejčí, Jhon Arias, and Hee-Chan Hwang are all fit despite minor knocks against Everton.
Absentees: Emmanuel Agbadou is at AFCON with Ivory Coast. Marshall Munetsi, Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, and Toti Gomes remain sidelined with injuries.
Rotation: Edwards is expected to give minutes to several academy prospects while maintaining a core of senior players to avoid a giant-killing.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Sa; Hoever, S. Bueno, Krejčí, Ait-Nouri; J. Gomes, Lemina; Arias, M. Mane, R. Gomes; Strand Larsen.
Shrewsbury Team News
Injury Blows: Forward Anthony Scully is out after an early injury against Bristol Rovers. Defenders Josh Ruffels and Tom Sang are doubts due to a calf issue and illness respectively.
Departure: George Nurse left the club by mutual consent this week to join Cheltenham Town.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Brook; Hoole, Feeney, Pierre, Benning; Perry, Winchester, Sagoe Jr; Shipley, Marquis, Castledine.
Head-to-Head (H2H) & Key Stats
Cup History: Wolves have progressed in both previous FA Cup ties against Shrewsbury, but required a replay on both occasions.
Recent Meeting: The last competitive meeting was in the 2018/19 FA Cup, where Wolves won a thrilling replay 3–2.
Form Gap: Wolves are 20th in the Premier League (Tier 1); Shrewsbury is 21st in League Two (Tier 4).
Defensive Struggles: Shrewsbury has lost 14 of their 15 away games against top-flight opponents in the FA Cup.
Tactical Analysis: Mane’s Movement vs. Salop’s Low Block
Wolves will likely dominate possession (expected to be >60%) and use the technical quality of Jude Bellingham (if selected) or Mateus Mane to find gaps in a disciplined Shrewsbury defense. Mane's ability to drift between lines will be the primary puzzle for the Salop backline to solve.
Shrewsbury will adopt a deep defensive block, hoping to frustrate Wolves and strike on the counter-attack through the physicality of John Marquis. Set-pieces will be their greatest chance of an upset, especially given Wolves' occasional vulnerability at the back this season.
Match Prediction
Despite their league position, Wolves have shown significantly improved quality under Rob Edwards in 2026. Shrewsbury’s struggles in League Two suggest they may lack the defensive depth to withstand 90 minutes of Premier League pressure.
Final Score Prediction: Wolves 3–0 Shrewsbury Town
