MK Dons Match Preview

9 August 2019

Marcus Braddock looks ahead to our trip to stadiummk in the Sky Bet League One

This weekend, Shrewsbury Town play their second game of the season whilst our hosts will be starting the season with their first game of the season. If you didn't already know, Milton Keynes first game of the season was cancelled because of the seemingly never-ending, financial saga at Bury. It's sad that it has come to this and I know something has to be done but I also know that there are Bury fans out there who are heartbroken about what has happened. In comparison, a cancelled game is relatively small beer but teams spend time and money trying to get things right at the right time so it's harsh on them too. Whether an extra weeks preparation can compare to sharpening up with real competition remains to be seen but it leaves me very little actual sport to comment about from our opposition’s point of view.

New faces

I can't talk about MKD's form as they have none yet but I can talk about some of the players they've signed since their promotion from League Two last season. One that caught my eye was goalscoring midfielder Ben Reeves who scored seven times in 43 starts over the last 2 season for Charlton. Reeves joined Charlton from MKD after scoring 24 goals in 86 starts and having returned, he will be aiming to recapture that form.

Another recognisable face is that of 24-year-old ex-Cardiff forward Rhys Healy who scored eight times in fifteen starts on loan at Stadium MK last season. It's his first permanent move after a series of goalscoring loan moves from parent club Cardiff.

There's also Joe Mason who's played for season after season, scoring goals for four different clubs in the Championship (Cardiff, Bolton, Wolves and Burton). He's back from a short stay in America with Colorado and at a level where the 28-year-old striker should succeed. If he can hit the ground running, he could be one of the cannier signings in League One this season. Paul Tisdale lost a few potential goals when last seasons 2nd top scorer moved to Charlton but there seems to be a good few goalscorers in his new signings and I wonder if they might be one of the dark horses this season.

Our Form

Milton Keynes Dons are going to face a Shrewsbury Town team that kept a clean sheet against one of the division’s top teams. We also saw what is technically known as a screamer from a debutant and a decent all-around performance, so confidence shouldn't be a problem. Despite that excellent win though, there is still plenty to be done before these players become the team that fulfils its potential. We looked extremely robust against a good Pompey team, understandings look to be developing well all around the pitch and the team spirit was obvious. I'm cautiously optimistic at the moment with the caution being to not load too much expectation on a developing team too early. Some may say I'm being a wet blanket, they might be right.

Head to Head

We've played each other 14 times with Town winning twice and losing six times. Probably our most memorable encounters (at least they were for us!) were the two League Two play-off games, which seem so long ago now. The home leg was played at the beautiful old Meadow and ended in deadlock but we won the away leg 2-1 with 2 goals from Shropshire lad Andy Cooke. It's not the only time we've won in Milton Keynes, in 2013 we won 3-2 there with a brace from both

Tom Eaves and Ryan Lowe (for MKD) before the tie was settled by an own goal. The home game is a particularly significant because it was our last ever competitive game at Gay Meadow.

Officials

Brett Huxtable from Devon is this weekend’s referee. He's been a Football League Referee since 2016 and before that he officiated at Conference level for a number of years. His first game in charge of Shrewsbury Town was a 1-0 away win at Scunthorpe in 2017. He was also in charge last season when we lost 2-1 at Plymouth. Mr Huxtable had to remove the players during a game between Crawley and Yeovil in 2018 because of drone incursion, the first and only time this has happened in the EFL. Brett's assistant referees are Declan Ford and Kevin Howick. The fourth official is Grant Taylor.

Pre-match Press

Both managers have enough about them to both be polite about each other whilst not trying to give anything away. On their official website, Paul Tisdale referenced our last two seasons to suggest that we can scrap but also have potential. Sam Ricketts has cast us in the role of underdog because they're fresher and because Paul Tisdale has recruited well.

Squad News

Ollie Norburn is still a few weeks from fitness and Steve Morison has signed a one-year contract with Town, freeing up one of our loan spots. Josh Laurent is missing with a muscle problem but Abo Eisa is available after getting hit in the head with the ball against Portsmouth.

Summary

When it comes to the result, I'm not sure what to expect. I was expecting a draw last weekend so I was more than happy with the win. I'd be happy enough with a draw again as it's an away game against an unknown quantity, so a point wouldn't be such a bad return. Having said that, I'm certain that Paul Tisdale's team would have rather faced a team that lost last weekend than one that beat a fancied team and kept a clean sheet. So an interesting game and one I think we can get something from if we work as hard as last weekend

COYB!!!

#marcusBraddock

Match Previews

Match Reports

MK Dons 1 Shrewsbury Town 0

10 August 2019

Last minute heartache for Town after Ebanks-Landell deflects ball home

After making a huge impact to last week’s win versus Portsmouth, Shaun Whalley starts today’s game and gets the game underway at Stadium MK.

With both teams having plenty of chances throughout the first half, neither team could make the breakthrough and find the first goal. However, the first chance came for MK Dons within the first five minutes, after a ball finds Jordan Bowery who fires the half-volley over Max O’Leary’s goal.

Shortly after, a chance for Town with good build-up play between Shaun Whalley and Luke McCormick after they linked up with a few one-two’s, on the edge of the box but for only the ball to be deflected away.

Chances were coming in left right and centre for MK as George Williams whips a ball in from the right-wing but is cleared by the Town defence for a corner.

Before MK were allowed to regain play from the corner, the first sub of the game was made, just 11 minutes in as Ro-Shaun Williams went down with what looked like a hamstring injury. On comes Omar Beckles as his replacement.

As the play regained, it was a great corner by Williams that was crossed in for it to be only smashed over the bar by Bowery.

At the other end of the pitch, MK’s Kieran Agard mistakenly attempted to head the ball back to Lee Nicholls, however it ended up going out for a Town corner. A lovely training ground routine produced from Town, as Whalley steps up to take the corner but passed to Ryan Giles, who whips a cross to the back post, but Town just couldn’t make it.

More link-up play between Town down the right-wing after Donald Love, Whalley and McCormick, more one-two’s – they were unlucky that the cross didn’t go their way.

A massive chance for Steve Morison after a brilliant through ball into the box by Whalley – Morison just couldn’t connect with it and ends up hitting it over Nicholls’ bar.

Whalley produced a great run through MK’s defence which won Town a corner. Giles stepped up to cross it and finds Dave Edwards who heads the ball just over the bar.

As the half-hour strikes, MK look as if they’re going to break the deadlock after Jordan Houghton fires a shot blasting over O’Leary’s net.

More chances for Town as Giles sprints down the left-wing, crosses a ball in that falls to Love’s feet and he smashed it first time but is deflected out for a throw-in. The throw-in is delivered into the box to McCormick who manages to swipe and miss the ball completely.

A mistaken pass by Joe Walsh, saw Whalley free on goal however Nicholls was quick off his line to deny Whalley and smash it out for a throw-in to Town.

A long ball that switched the play by Love, fell for McCormick who has the confidence to take it on the volley, but he ends up slicing it out for a goal kick.

A great chance for Town on the stroke of half-time as Giles produced a brilliant run into the area after receiving a long ball from Vincelot. Giles crosses the ball into the box and falls to Edwards’ head, hits the bar and manages to be scrambled out of the box.

HALF-TIME MK Dons 0-0 Town

George Williams brings down Whalley as he was through on goal after he knocks the ball past him. However, the ball was deflected and kicked up the other end of the pitch.

Great defending by Ethan Ebanks-Landell after denying MK a breakthrough goal after he stopped the through ball going through to MK’s attacking line.

On the hour mark, Town looked to be in on goal as Whalley has the ball in the 18-yard area and has so much time, but is then quickly intercepted by MK’s defence, however, the ball ends up with Giles on the wing and wins a corner for Town. The corner is taken quickly by Whalley who finds Giles, who then finds McCormick and plays a through ball into the 6-yard-box and is bought down in the process, however, the linesman already called offside.

Town continue to apply pressure on MK’s backline, firing crosses in, winning headers, throw-ins, corners however they just cannot find an end product. One cross finds Morison’s head and is headed down to McCormick on the edge of the 18 and fires a half volley just over Nicholls’ goal.

Almost 15 minutes before time, saw two changes for Town, Luke McCormick and Steve Morison to be replaced by Brad Walker and Fejiri Okenabirhie who look to bring something different to the squad for the remainder of the game.

With three minutes added on for stoppage time MK continue to press and Town look to stay strong along the backline. However, a curled shot from substitute Rhys Healy saw the game change. Healy’s shot rattled the back of O’Leary’s net, after a deflection of defender Ethan Ebanks-Landell.

The game ended shortly after Town kicked the game back off.

Full-time MK Dons 1 – 0 Town

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9 August 2019

Ticket details for our Sky Bet League One trip to the Stadium MK

MK Dons v Shrewsbury Town
Saturday 10th August – 3 pm Kick-Off
Stadium MK
Sky Bet League One

Tickets are now on sale for our Sky Bet League One trip to stadiummk.

We have been allocated 510 tickets in the North Stand Lower for the trip to stadiummk.

Prices

Adult - £22
Senior (over 65) - £17
Under 18 - £7
Under 12 - Free
Personal Assistant - No charge please allocate as applicable to carer status.

All disabled supporters should be charged as age applicable.

There is no price increase on ANY of the age categories for pay on the day.

The ticket collection point is located at the away ticket booth next to gate 3 at the stadium.

Car Parking - Limited parking issues available at stadiummk site for a fee of £7. MK Dons highly recommend pre-booking. This can be booked via mkdons.com.

Tickets will go off sale at 4 pm on Friday 9th of August from the ticket office at the Montgomery Waters Meadow after that Town fans can buy tickets on the day at stadiummk.

Tickets can be purchased in the following ways:

•    In-person at the Montgomery Waters Meadow ticket office
•    By calling 01743 273943
•    Via our online ticketing site - click here

Away tickets are set up online with the following delivery options:

Standard post
Special delivery
Collect from Shrewsbury Town - Free

Any tickets for away games not collected will be taken to the away game on the day.

If you can't make it to the game you can listen to full match commentary, or watch the game if you are an International fan, on IFollow Shrews or download the app here to listen if you are out and about - IFollow App.

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