Paterson treble helps MK Dons strike five to see off Shrewsbury

MK Dons picked up a fine win over Shrewsbury Town at Stadium MK with a 5-1 win, in which Callum Paterson bagged a hat-trick.

The Scotsman’s treble – a first in his professional career – gave the Dons a 3-0 half-time lead, with second half goals by Luke Offord and Dan Crowley sealing success.

Shrewsbury sub Tom Sang scored a consolation goal between the Dons’ fourth and fifth goals, but the home side had a comprehensive win, with the side retaining an unbeaten home run in league games stretching back to late September. The win also saw them climb into the automatic promotion places, with the Dons now up to third on goal difference.

After victory at Accrington Stanley last time out, the Dons were chasing back-to-back wins for the first time in 2026 as they hosted a Shrewsbury side who had won just one away game in League Two so far this season, but who were also looking for back-to-back wins after winning a six pointer against Harrogate last time out.

The hosts had the game’s first big chance, with Aaron Collins heading over Ben Wiles’ cross from close range despite being unmarked.

Shrewsbury would not heed the warning, however, with MK Dons able to find the lead inside eight minutes. A long pass by Wiles released Paterson, who held off the covering defender before firing a low shot from outside that box that found its way into the bottom corner.

Three minutes later, Paterson and the Dons had a second to their respective tallies. Alex Gilbey was barged over by Shrewsbury’s Luca Hoole as the two attempted to meet a Wiles cross, and Paterson duly thumped in the penalty to make it 2-0.

The hosts continued to be on the front-foot, with Collins being found in a decent position only to mishit a shot off target.

Shrewsbury were causing the Dons some bother going forward, with the visitors having a few positive moves that broke down. Their best opportunities came from a set-piece, as Sam Clucas’ corner picked out Will Boyle, only for the defender to glance his header wide.

Just after the half hour, MK Dons duly grabbed their third and Paterson would once again be on the scoreboard. Wiles teed it off for Paterson, who was able to again make space for a shot then curl a nice shot out of the reach of Shrewsbury keeper Will Brook.

Brook would make a stop to deny Paterson’s deflected strike, while Shrewsbury did have an opportunity when Clucas’ long-range strike was denied by Craig MacGillivray.

The second half was played at a calmer pace but the Dons would have an opportunity as Gilbey was denied by Brook, before MacGillivray kept out an effort from Shrewsbury’s Iwan Morgan.

Paterson would be taken off to a standing ovation, and a few moments after the hat-trick hero was withdrawn, MK Dons found a fourth.

After the visitors failed to clear a ball into the box, Collins saw a strike bounce off the post, and Offord was able to bundle the ball home for his first goal since August.

A consolation goal would then come Shrewsbury’s way, as sub Sang got space for a shot and duly walloped a strike from range past MacGillivray.

MK Dons duly responded by making it five. Brook made a good save to deny home sub Scott Hogan, but after the visitors couldn’t clear their lines, Crowley hit a strike home via a deflection off Hoole. The strike was Crowley’s first since scoring against MK Dons for Notts County on Boxing Day 2024.

The result was duly sealed for Paul Warne’s side, who taste the points in the first part of a home double header against struggling sides, with the Dons due to welcome Bristol Rovers on Tuesday night.

MK Dons: MacGillivray – Offord, Nelson, Sanders – Jones (Lemonheigh-Evans 67), Wiles, Kelly (Crowley 82), Gilbey (Matete 67), Nemane (Mellish 45) – Paterson (Hogan 76), Collins

Subs not used: Trueman, Ekpiteta

Goal: Paterson (8, pen 11, 34), Offord (81), Crowley (88)

Booked: Nemane

Shrewsbury: Brook – Freeman, Hoole, Boyle, Clucas – Kabia, Perry (Lloyd 72), Ruffels, Morgan (Sang 72) – Marquis, Ogunsuyi (Ojinnaka 72)

Subs not used: Cox, Anderson, Lee, England

Goal: Sang (83)

Booked: Morgan, Hoole, Perry, Clucas