Paul Warne praises MK Dons after 5-1 victory over Shrewsbury

MK Dons head coach Paul Warne hailed his side’s work after a 5-1 win over Shrewsbury.

A first-half hat-trick by Callum Paterson helped MK Dons seize control.

The Scot scored his first career hat-trick courtesy of a low strike to give the hosts an 8th-minute lead, then an 11th minute penalty after a foul on Alex Gilbey and finally a fine third curled home in the 34th minute.

Luke Offord scored a rebound in the 81st minute after Aaron Collins hit the post.

Shrewsbury’s Thomas Sang scored a fine consolation after 83 minutes but MK Dons re-established a four-goal lead five minutes later when Dan Crowley scored after Scott Hogan’s strike was saved.

MK Dons moved into League Two’s automatic promotion spots as a result and Warne praised his team’s performance.

He said: “I’m really pleased with the lads. Every game asks different questions of you and poses different threats, but I thought the lads dealt with their threat really well.

“The back line were pretty flawless and I liked the feel of our midfield today.

“It was backed up by the threat in-behind by the wing-backs and strikers, and I think the third goal, we try to work it in training but that was as picture perfect a goal we can score.

“I’m pleased for Pato (Paterson) and generally pleased for the lads. It gives them a right boost, not that they need a boost as they’re in a good place. The squad looked strong today.

“Apart from conceding, we don’t really have a lot to complain about.

“We’re going to hit sticky patches on the way in but if we keep the group together and healthy, we’ve got a good chance.”

Shrewsbury’s Michael Appleton was frustrated after another difficult away day, with the Shrews winning just one away league game so far this season.

He said: “When you go behind as early as what we did, you make it hard for yourself, and to then find yourself two down, doubly difficult, especially come up against a team with a lot of talent.

“One of the most frustrating stats I’ve had all season is that we’ve had more penalty area entries in the first half but we find ourselves three down.

“I don’t know if that’s lack of ability, level of ability between the two teams or possibly a little bit of softness when it comes to defending.

“There were so many promising moments that came to nothing from an attacking point of view. The reality is at the other end of the pitch, they made half-chances into good chances and punished us. We allowed them to do that by being soft with our defending and not being aggressive enough.”