MK Dons were beaten 1-0 by Shrewsbury Town on a frustrating afternoon at Montgomery Waters Meadow.
Liam Manning’s men were dominant throughout but were unable to break down their hosts, who secured all three points courtesy of Shaun Whalley’s goal ten minutes into the second half.
The Dons remain sixth in Sky Bet League One despite the defeat and have an immediate opportunity to bounce back on Tuesday when they travel to Wigan Athletic.
Team news
MK Dons made two changes from their last Sky Bet League One outing as David Kasumu replaced an injured Ethan Robson while Mo Eisa came in for Max Watters in attack.
First half
The Dons started brightly and tried to create a shooting opportunity as early as the fifth minute from a well-worked free-kick routine. Unfortunately, tough, Twine wasn’t able to latch onto Parrott’s pass and deliver a cross.
Shrewsbury nicked possession off MK Dons two minutes later and earned themselves the game’s first corner – a corner which was dealt with by Dean Lewington at the far post.
Soon after, Manning’s men won their first corner and they went close to the opening goal from it but Matt O’Riley’s fearsome volley was deflected over the bar by the head of a Shrewsbury defender.
Nothing came of the resulting corner, though the Dons were back on the attack again moments later – Eisa, on the turn, with an effort blocked following some good one-touch play in the Shrewsbury final third.
On 17 minutes, Twine saw a 20-yard drive deflect behind for a corner. Twine delivered the corner which saw Eisa go close stood underneath Marko Marosi, who did well to punch clear.
Shrewsbury registered their first shot on goal with 20 minutes on the clock – a right-footed strike from Sam Cosgrove which was comfortably gathered by Fisher.
The Dons’ best opportunity to date arrived with minutes to play in the half when Parrott picked out the run of Eisa with an inch-perfect through ball. Eisa took the shot first time but wasn’t able to beat Marosi.
There was a let off for Manning and his side on 43 minutes when a loos touch allowed Elliott Bennett in down the right – fortunately, though, he wasn’t able to pick out a teammate with his ball across the box.
In first-half stoppage time, O’Riley was afforded space on the edge of the Shrewsbury box but his curling shot was blocked. The whistle sounded for the interval shortly after.
Half-Time – Shrewsbury Town 0-0 MK Dons
Second half
The Dons survived two early crosses into their box at the start of the second half. Whalley then tried his luck for the hosts but saw his low drive gathered by Fisher.
Whalley was, however, able to find a way past Fisher 10 minutes into the second period, as he raced onto a through pass and kept his composure to fire a right-footed shot into the roof of the net. 1-0.
Parrott went in search of a leveller with 63 minutes played but his attempt was saved by Marosi, who was able to pounce on his parry just ahead of a lurking Eisa. A minute later, Twine had a go from distance but couldn’t find the target.
The MK Dons number nine had another sight of goal on 65 minutes – he, though, dragged his shot wide from the edge of the D. The ball fell away his again soon after, this time in the box, but his effort was blocked.
Kasumu, too, saw a strike turned away by a defender, shortly before Manning made his first substitution and replaced Twine with Hiram Boateng.
O’Riley was forced to clear over his own crossbar from a Luke Leahy corner with 18 minutes to play. Watters then entered the fray, in place of Parrott in attack.
His strike partner, Eisa, had a header saved with 11 minutes left on the clock, shortly before Watters went agonisingly close to meeting O’Riley’s in-swinging cross.
Time was quickly start to run out for the Dons to break down a stubborn Shrewsbury backline. They did get behind them on 83 minutes through Kioso, but header was off target from Harvie’s cross.
Tennai Watson for O’Hora was Manning’s final throw of the die. Immediately he won the Dons a corner though his team wasn’t able to take advantage of it.
As five minutes of stoppage time were awarded, Eisa flashed a fierce right-footed shot just past the post. That was the closest they came to rescuing a point.
Full-time - Shrewsbury Town 1-0 MK Dons.
MK Dons: Fisher, Lewington, O’Hora (Watson 87), Darling, O’Riley, Kasumu, Twine (Boateng 69), Eisa, Parrott (Watters 76), Harvie, Kioso.
Subs: Ravizzoli, Brown, Baldwin, McEachran.
Booked: Darling
Shrewsbury Town: Marosi, Leahy, Ebanks-Landell, Pennington, Whalley, Cosgrove (Bowman 46), Udoh (Pyke 70), Ogbeta, Davis, Bennett, Nurse (Bloxham 89).
Subs: Burgoyne, Caton, Daniels, Leshabela.
Goal: Whalley (55)
Booked: Whalley, Leahy
Referee: C Brook
Attendance: 5,711 (394 away)
