REF’s picks

Backing Shrewsbury Town with the goal start covered via the zero handicap offers a pragmatic route in a tight lower-table clash. Shrewsbury hold home advantage at Croud Meadow, though their scoring rate remains modest and Colchester's better possession stats could dictate periods of the game.

1. 1Shrewsbury are playing at home where they need to kickstart momentum after a sluggish start to the League 2 campaign.
2. 2Colchester edge the season metrics slightly with superior possession and more goals scored per game on average.
3. 3Shrewsbury's poor defensive record and tendency to draw blanks mean backing them outright carries significant risk.

REF's own opinion, not a guarantee — nothing here is financial or betting advice, and the call is always yours.