A trio of Shrewsbury Town players will be pushing to kickstart their birthday celebrations by claiming the scalp of League Two table-toppers Chesterfield this weekend.
Goalkeeper Chris Neal, skipper Ian Sharps and top scorer Jake Robinson all turn a year older on Saturday when they will be going all out to try and inflict a first league defeat on the free-scoring Spireites at their new B2net Stadium.
Robinson, who has found the net nine times this season, will turn 24, Neal will be 25 and Sharps will turn 30 as Town, in fifth spot, aim to cut the four-point gap between themselves and Chesterfield.
“There are a few of us who will be looking to play well on our birthdays and I would love to get a goal,” said Robinson.
“I’ve previously done pretty well on my birthday week so I’ll be looking to continue that trend.
“I joined the club at the same time as Chris Neal and was in the same hotel as him for a bit when I found out we shared the same birthday.
“Then he called me over the other day to say he had been speaking to Ian Sharps and had found out that it’s also his birthday on Saturday! It’s very strange so hopefully we can have a triple celebration.”
Robinson insisted this was a game to look forward to and with Chesterfield expecting a bumper crowd, the former Brighton striker admits it’s a match that needs little building up.
“With them going to the top of the league last weekend, it’s a big one,” he said.
“The fans will be up for it and we’ll certainly be up for it and we’ll be looking to continue the good form we showed against Lincoln.
“These are the games you want to play in and it’s a fantastic game in League Two.”
Chesterfield have collected 16 of the 18 points up for grabs at their new home, their first half a dozen matches at the 10,400 capacity B2net Stadium producing no fewer than 26 goals.
They are at their best going forward with Jack Lester and Shropshire lad Craig Davies both lively strikers, but Robinson believes Town can cause John Sheridan’s men problems at the other end.
“They do seem to concede a few,” he said.
“I’ve been looking at that but they also score a lot and they’ve been fantastic at home. It’s going to be a challenge for us, but we’ll be going there with a positive mindset looking to take all three points.
“I don’t think we’ve gone anywhere this season thinking we’ll settle for a draw and I think we’re good enough to beat anyone.”
Robinson stressed how much he was enjoying his football this season but, having netted eight of his nine goals this term on home soil, he’s hungry to weigh in with a few more on the road.
“I can’t really put my finger on what the difference is,” he said.
“I try to play the same way both home and away, but maybe away I haven’t had the same chances I’ve been getting at home.”
He’s also set himself the target of bettering his previous best tally for a season, the dozen goals he plundered for Brighton in 2006-07.
“I actually only scored six league goals that season so I’ve already surpassed that. I’ll be looking to get to 10 next and then I definitely want to get past 12 this year and who knows how many further.”
Robinson added he was happy to be among the division’s leading marksmen and was keeping close tabs on the other men setting the pace.
“I check if Adam Le Fondre has scored and also Ryan Lowe at the moment so I’ll be looking to catch those two,” he said.
“I have a cheeky look now and then but it’s May when it really counts.”
Town will find out the identity of their FA Cup first round opponents when the draw is made live on ITV1 on Sunday from 12.30pm.
By Stuart Dunn