MK Dons 1 Shrewsbury Town 1 - Report and pictures

A Shaun Whalley stunner four minutes from time spared Shrewsbury Town a third straight league defeat and snatched a point at MK Dons, writes Lewis Cox at Stadium mk.

The winger pulled a rabbit out of the hat with his third goal in three games to give the Town fans that had braved the freezing conditions something to cheer.

Paul Hurst’s side otherwise created little to threaten drawing level after Peter Pawlett had handed the out-of-form hosts an early second-half lead.

Whalley’s inspired strike keeps Town in League One’s top two. Now four points shy of leaders Wigan, one ahead of Blackburn and nine point gap to seventh.

Shrews recent record now reads just one victory from their last five league games. But they again showed the same superb spirit at the death to earn Town some of the spoils.

Analysis:

Hurst reverted to the central midfield trio that fared so well earlier in the campaign as Jon Nolan (hip) was passed fit.

He joined Ben Godfrey and Abu Ogogo - the latter starting in the league for the first time since his dismissal at Rotherham - in midfield.

Bryn Morris (dead leg) made the bench.

Top scorer Stefan Payne was drafted in up front, replacing Carlton Morris who featured in the Checkatrade Trophy at Port Vale, while James Bolton won the right-back battle over Joe Riley.

Louis Dodds, who impressed in scoring and creating a goal at Vale, was benched.

The hosts were struggling for any League One consistency. Robbie Nielson’s side started the afternoon languishing in 16th place having just won once in seven league games.

But Shrewsbury were also keen to end a run of back-to-back league defeats, the first time that run had hit Hurst’s high-fliers this term.

Town also reverted back to the centre-half pairing of Toto Nsiala and Mat Sadler that he previously fared them well. Omar Beckles shifted to left-back.

The opening exchanges featured some impressive and intense work from the visitors. Returning skipper Ogogo led from the front as he pressured the Dons’ backline.

It was Shaun Whalley’s first delivery of the afternoon, from the left corner flag, that had the hosts scrambling. Beckles was just unable to get the required purchase on his header.

The opening quarter did prove a great spectacle. Both sides struggled to string a succession of passes together.

Just after that point and the visitors carved out the game’s clearest opening. Alex Rodman impacted proceedings for the first time by drifting infield beyond two and seeing his low drive from distance well parried by Lee Nicholls.

But the goalkeeper’s block fell to Payne at a tight left angle, and Town’s No.45 could only blaze wildly over first-time with his left foot. It almost cleared the stand.

Town seized the initiative and were seeing more of the ball in midfield but final passes and crosses lacked some conviction.

The efforts on goal began to flow before the break. Firstly Wolves loanee Ethan Ebanks-Landell was left all alone from a corner and his header was only kept out by the well-positioned Payne.

Kieran Agard then flashed a powerful shot goalward that Town’s Dean Henderson had to be alert to keep out.

Whalley then had a go for Town as he jinked into the box but could only curl left-footed at Nicholls.

Hurst was left concerned as Whalley and Bolton seemed to give up on a right-sided move and the powerful Chuks Aneke broke. He shifted it to Peter Pawlett who fed Osman Sow and Henderson got down superbly to push the finish around his post for a corner.

It was the kind of save that has Henderson rated so highly.

Things were not clicking for Hurst’s men going forward. The Dons were pleased for Shrewsbury to have the ball deep but snapped at Town’s heels to win the ball in their own third before breaking well.

Rodman began the second period looking to spark some life into his side. A low cross was just cleared by Dons’ backpedaling defence before the Town winger was halted as he tricked his way into the box.

Referee Ross Joyce came over to the touchline to calm down Town’s management staff, with Hurst, Chris Doig and Danny Coyne having a talking to.

Town were doing little to lift the spirit of their staff and 10 minutes into the second period some cool attacking play had Shrews staring down another defeat.

Nsiala and Beckles tumbled over each other leaving Aneke, and MK’s dangerman played an intelligent ball into the unmarked Pawlett, with the wideman firing under Henderson with aplomb from 12 yards.

Suddenly Town needed to up the ante and begin asking more questions of the home side’s defence.

With little signs of improvement Town’s boss turned to Dodds for his first change, with Godfrey going the other way.

Only a superb Nsiala block stopped Pawlett after the impressive Aneke bounded forward. Town were left seething some 15 minutes before then end as Whalley dangerous looking delivery was deflected by a Dons defender. Shrewsbury and their fans behind the goal barked at Mr Joyce for a spot-kick.

If anything it was the hosts looking more dangerous on the break. Bolton was booked for pulling a shirt back after play had gone on and Sam Nombe shot wide.

Lenell John-Lewis was thrown into the mix for Sadler as Hurst desperately tried to freshen up his attack.

Dodds had a shot blocked and almost sent a cross back towards a team-mate as the visitors turned the screw.

But with four minutes of normal time to go, Town’s No.7 sent the away fans wild. He received a pass out wide, took stock and opted against sending in another cross - instead to bury an absolute piledriver into the opposite top corner, leaving Nicholls swatting at fresh air.

A stunning strike and his seventh of the season.

The crucially-timed super strike saved Shrews’ blushes on a below par day and earned a vital point.

Key moments:

12 - Omar Beckles gets some connection on a fine Shaun Whalley delivery but not enough to beat Lee Nicholls.

25 - Alex Rodman drifts infield past two, shoots low from 25 yards and the parries clearance from keeper Lee Nicholls is smashed way over by Stefan Payne’s left foot.

38 - Ethan Ebanks-Landell is totally unmarked from a corner and his header is cleared off the line by Payne.

40 - Whalley sends a curling effort straight at Nicholls after working himself into the box.

42 - Poor from James Bolton and Whalley and Chuks Aneke breaks. He feeds Peter Pawlett who finds Osman Sow. The Swede’s finish looks destined for the bottom corner but Dean Henderson makes a superb save.

49 - Rodman’s low cross was just about cleared before a good challenge ended his weaving run into the box.

55 - GOAL MK Dons. Aneke feeds Peter Pawlett after Town’s lapse in defence and the winger sends it under Henderson.

74 - Fine Nsiala block denies Pawlett a second after Aneke’s break.

75 - Town demand a handball after Whalley’s right-sided cross seems to deflect off a home player.

86 - TOWN GOAL!!!! Stunner from Whalley who decides against crossing and sends a delightful effort into the far top corner to earn Shrewsbury an unlikely point.