Saturday will see The Shrews take on a Dons team that is desperate to bring their excellent recent away form to the National Hockey Stadium. The Dons are hoping for their first home win in four games to keep them in touch with the clubs competing for an automatic promotion spot but face a tough game against a side that has conceded just 15 goals this season.
Shrewsbury Town are currently 12th in the league and are developing a reputation as the leagues draw specialists having drawn 7 of their 16 league games this season. The Dons can expect to come up against a strong defence and be prepared for long balls sent direct to their front men.
MK Dons Team News:
Gary Smith remains sidelined with a knee injury but apart from that Martin Allen has a full squad to select from.
Possible team is: Lee Harper, Jamie Smith, Drissa Diallo, Sean O`Hanlon, Dean Lewington, Jon-Paul McGovern, Gareth Edds, Keith Andrews, Lloyd Dyer, Clive Platt & Izale McLeod.
Player to watch: Lee Harper
On loan from Northampton Town, the experienced goalkeeper can expect a warm welcome when he makes his first home appearance for the Dons.
Shrewsbury Team News:
Goalkeeper Ryan Esson is out with a broken cheekbone, Richard Hope with a calf injury and on loan Joe Keith has returned early to Leyton Orient. Sagi Burton is back in the squad after injury.
Possible Team is: Scott Shearer, Neil Ashton, Stewart Drummond, Neil Sorvel, Kelvin Longmead, Derek Asamoah, Ben Herd, Ben Davies, Gavin Cowan, Dave Edwards & Michael Symes.
Player to watch: Michael Symes
The 23 year old ex-Bradford City striker is the Shrews leading scorer so far this season
Match Facts & Stats
Currently 5th in the league, MK Dons have won their last four away games and lost their last three home games and a win this weekend could see them go third above Wycombe and Swindon. This will be the first home game for the Dons since going out of the Carling Cup to Spurs on October 25th in front of their biggest ever crowd at the NHS.
Shrewsbury Town have an impressive goal difference of +9 having scored 24 goals this season and conceding just 15. A win could put them in 10th position with a game in hand so are still in touch with the promotion chasers.
Ref Watch:
Phil Crossley (Kent)
Match Prediction:
The Dons have been playing well but have disappointed at home, it`s just a matter of time before a team visits the NHS and ends up on the receiving end of weeks of pent up frustration – it could be this weekend but a 1 – 0 win for the home side is a more realistic outcome.
Ex Dons
Shrewsbury Town manager and former defender Gary Peters was a Wimbledon FC regular and occasional captain of the side between 1983 and 1985, a period that saw the Dons leap from the then Division 4 to Division 2 in two seasons.
You need to get out of this league and fast