Dan’s the man as Karl hails the fans
MICKY Mellon claims his Shrewsbury team were hard done-by after Daniel Powell pounced on Abu Ogogo’s error to give MK Dons an opening-day win.
Powell struck midway through the second half to send the travelling fans into raptures with Dons boss Karl Robinson citing the supporters as making the difference.
Shrewsbury had bossed the early stages but failed to capitalise leaving Mellon disappointed but buoyed by his team’s unrelenting desire.
“In terms of honesty and desire and the way the players applied themselves on the pitch I couldn’t have asked for more,” Mellon said.
“We did pretty much everything we felt we needed to do to get something out of the game but it just never went our way.
“We were strong in our set-up and our determination and we thoroughly deserved something from it.
“Our goalkeeper only had one save to make all game and that is credit to the way we defended.
“We had the better chances and we made their goalkeeper work but a mistake cost us.”
Shrewsbury’s first chance of the season fell to Louis Dodds but his third-minute shot went inches wide.
Joe Walsh’s header was comfortably gathered by Jayson Leutwiler at the other end before AJ LeitchSmith’s hesitation allowed Joe Walsh to dispossess him with just the keeper to beat.
Dodds’ snapshot volley was then wellsaved by David Martin while Jim O’Brien narrowly missed the top corner of the Dons’ net before the interval.
The visitors almost took the lead when Darren Potter’s 48th minute header rebounded off the Shrewsbury crossbar from Ed Upson’s free-kick.
But a mistake by Shrews sub Ogogo saw him lose the ball inside his own penalty area allowing Powell to rifle home on 73 minutes, snaring the points.
Dons manager Robinson said: “We knew it was going to be hard and that Shrewsbury would be a physical, determined team, but our grit and determination came through.
“We got a clean sheet, our first goal and our first win which is great.
“We are only going to get better because we had a lot of players missing.
“We looked organised, well-drilled and denied opportunities between the lines although there is still some naivety in our game that we have to improve on.
“But we had a great turn out from the fans and they really made the difference.”