Toughest test yet, warns boss
Gary Peters is under no illusions about the size of the task his side face at MK Dons tomorrow, declaring: "This is our toughest challenge yet." Gary Peters is under no illusions about the size of the task his side face at MK Dons tomorrow, declaring: "This is our toughest challenge yet." Town will run out at the Dons' sparkling new 22,000 all-seater Stadium:MK with their manager's warning ringing in their ears about a hostile crowd out for revenge. It's less than four months since Shrewsbury dumped MK Dons out of the play-offs to book a spot at Wembley, and boss Peters believes the wounds will still run deep. Read the full story in today's Shropshire Star
It's less than four months since Shrewsbury dumped MK Dons out of the play-offs to book a spot at Wembley, and boss Peters believes the wounds will still run deep.
Paul Ince has replaced Martin Allen as manager and has made several new signings, but the Town chief still expects them to be fired up for the game.
"It's definitely the toughest test we've faced and it's not just because MK Dons have got a good side," he said. "There's history now because we've knocked them out of the play-offs and they'll see it as a chance for revenge.
"They'll be thinking about that game because it was as big a day for them as it was for us, but it didn't finish too well for them.
"They need to get their season going and they certainly won't be resting on their laurels because they know what we're about.
"Them, Peterborough and Darlington are the favourites for promotion because of the financial side of it.
"But we've got a side that is capable of playing against anyone on their day and we feel like we can be challenging this season.
"That's not us being clever or big-headed, we just feel we can compete now."
Peters believes the best is yet to come from Town, despite their encouraging unbeaten start.
He has been restricted by several injuries in pre-season and at the start of the campaign and does not expect to be able to judge exactly how successful his side can be until everyone is back and fully fit.
"We're way off our best at the moment and we've still got four or five players in the team who haven't done a full pre-season and injured players who are coming back," he added.
"We've got Dave Hibbert, Stuart Nicholson, Marc Tierney, Darren Moss and Colin Murdock who have been playing but they've all got a bit to do to get match fit.
"We're nowhere near our best so we've got to get through the next few weeks and just try to pick up as many points as we can."
By Chris Hudson