Shropshire takes note of 'the Don' Karl Robinson

Robinson – who became the youngest boss in the Football League at the age of 29 – has developed a reputation for his attention to detail in his off the pitch preparations.

But the one-time Oswestry Town striker hasn't been afraid to draft in senior hands at Stadium MK to help him secure Championship football for the first time in the Dons' short history.

Last summer, he appointed ex-Luton boss Mick Harford as assistant manager and brought in ex-Arsenal and England striker Ian Wright to work with the club's frontmen.

Shrewsbury boss Graham Turner said: "Karl looks a bright young manager and what has impressed me is that he has not been afraid to bring in experience alongside him.

"He's brought in Ian Wright to work with the forwards and there's other personnel he's got in around him who have got a great knowledge of the game.

"He's had a good start to his managerial career at the MK Dons."

Robinson guided MK Dons to two fifth-placed finishes in his first two campaigns in charge.

And although on both occasions the Buckinghamshire outfit lost out in play-off semi-finals to Peterborough and Huddersfield respectively, they were installed among the favourites for automatic promotion this term.

When Dean Bowditch snatched a last-minute equaliser at the Greenhous Meadow last November they were riding high in third place.

But a run of eight games without a win during January and February has left them trailing the front-runners down in 11th place.

That has frustrated MK chairman and benefactor Peter Winkelman's future ambitions, which include expanding the new ground's capacity from 22,000 to 32,000.

Winkelman, who bought the club in 2004 after the former Wimbledon went into administration, said: "I can't grow the club if I can't get it promoted. It's the one thing I think needs to happen to the MK Dons."

Injuries to midfielders Stephen Gleeson and Luke Chadwick have hit Robinson's plans and an expansive pitch has encouraged attacking football from visiting teams.

Boss Turner believes Salop can enjoy the wide open spaces as much as Bournemouth and Walsall have as they toasted big victories over the last two months.

He said: "It's a very big pitch and in football parlance they make it big," said Turner. "They use the full length and width of the pitch to good effect.

"I was impressed with them when they played against Doncaster last week (3-0 home win). You'd have thought they were right up there the way they went about their performance as it was was a comprehensive victory.

"We've gone to some big grounds this season and caused one or two surprises. They don't come any bigger than Coventry in this league and we've gone there and won (1-0).

"And we're capable of going and getting a result at MK Dons."

Before Bowditch's intervention, Mark Wright's exquisite curled finish appeared to have handed Town their second consecutive win when the sides last met three days after Turner's men had edged Crewe (1-0).

Now after a run of three consecutive defeats, they need to stop the rot when they visit the same pair of opponents over the next five days.