All you need to know about tonight's clash
After a difficult few games, the tough opposition continues with tonight's away game at Milton Keynes Dons.
MK have had an up and down season. They spent 20 games in the top 10, peaking at third place in mid October. Since then, the MK season has not been as good with just three wins in the league.
Their recent form has shown MK to have had a difficult time with just one win in 10 games, with six draws and three defeats.
At home, MK Dons have been pretty good with nine wins, four defeats and four draws. Their last home win was 3-0 against Doncaster Rovers last Tuesday. Before that, MK last won at home in the league against Hartlepool on December 15.
Form
9 March-Sheffield United 0-0 Milton Keynes D
5th March-Milton Keynes D 3-0 Doncaster Rovers
2nd March- Milton Keynes D 1-1 Preston North End
26th February-Portsmouth 1-1 Milton Keynes D
23rd February-Carlisle 1-1 Milton Keynes D
Head to Head
We've only played MK seven times and we've only beaten them twice. In the 2006/7 season we won at home 2-1 and later that year we beat them 2-1 again to win the League 2 play-off semi final. The highest aggregate score between the sides was a 3-3 draw in 2008 and season this year we drew 2-2 at the Greenhous Meadow.
Top Scorer (league)
Ryan Lowe 7
Dean Bowditch 6
Luke Chadwick 6
Daniel Powell 6
Assists (league)
Dean Bowditch 7
Ryan Lowe 3
Ryan Harley 3
Daniel Powell 3
Luke Chadwick 3
Stephen Gleason
Clean Sheets
13
The Manager
Karl Robinson. Games for Milton Keynes-156. Wins-71. Draws-44. Defeats- 41.
Percentages
Milton Keynes have failed to score in 23% of their games this season and at home have not scored in 12%. In terms of home wins, MK have won 37% of their league games and have lost 29%.
Referee
David Phillips from West Sussex. Games this season: 28. Yellow cards:101. Red cards: 7.
Assistants
Neil Hair and Mark Mellor
4th official
Craig Hicks
Squad News
MK-Are waiting to hear if reserve keeper Ian McLaughlin will be fit. First choice keeper David Martin will miss his fifth straight game because of a back injury.
Shrewsbury Town-Jon Taylor should be fit enough to play while Mark Wright is back in training.
Prediction
Milton Keynes have not had the best spell recently, but they have turned in some decent results in that time, like the 3-0 win over Doncaster and Saturday's draw with Sheffield United.
Our home game against MK this season was the only one I missed because of illness, but it was apparently a very good game with plenty of fight.
If we fight like we know we can, we can get something. I would be happy enough with a draw to stop the rot of defeats we have been suffering, but I will go for my usual win for Shrewsbury Town by one goal to nil.
COYB!!!!
Written by Marcus Braddock
Shrewsweb has it all covered if you cant make tonight's game. Pop back at 7.45pm to hear live commentary. You can also join me on “Cover it Live” for free match chat.
GT
On the positives from Saturday's defeat...
There was, at times, some decent forward play, we got the ball into good areas. On one or two occasions the keeper made good saves, particularly one from Jon Taylor that might have put us back in the game, it was an outstanding save. We kept going, we still mounted a challenge, even toward the end of the game, and I think, in fairness to the players, we've hit a flat spot as far as results are concerned. There's a little bit of lost confidence, a little bit of trepidation about things at the moment and that's what we've got to get rid of.
I thought that Tom Eaves had his best game for us, held the ball up well, brought other players in to play. Cameron Gayle never stopped on the right side, going past the wide player and trying to get crosses in.
On Milton Keynes...
I saw MK Dons last week, it's a big pitch and they make it big. They spread out all over the place. I saw them beat Doncaster 3-0 and it was a comprehensive victory over a side that were top of the table. They played ever so well in that game so I know what we're up against. They've got some decent players, some experienced players, but we've got to go there with plenty of spirit and fight and hope to get the result.