Shrewsbury Town 0-0 MK Dons - match analysis and pictures

But there were certainly plenty of positives to take from a game that Town dominated much of.

That MK Dons goalkeeper David Martin was his side's man of the match says much for the quality Town managed to produce on a number of second-half occasions.

The lack of goals to show for their efforts will only add further evidence to manager Graham Turner's own admission that his side could do with a couple of reinforcements going forward.

But Shrewsbury looked far from the relegation candidates the pre-season oddsmakers branded them against a Dons side expected to be involved in the play-off shake-up. A vocal home crowd would not have been hugely confident of an opening victory after a largely uneventful first half, albeit one the hosts had shaded.

Only two moves of real quality stood out as first Joe Jacobson's far-post cross caused panic in the Dons box – before being turned behind in the nick of time with Tom Bradshaw waiting to pounce – and then Luke Summerfield, Paul Parry and Bradshaw all combined in the final third to engineer a shot for the latter which was blocked.

Aaron Wildig and Summerfield also produced a couple of eye-catching crossfield passes, albeit yielding no end product.

And on-loan Newcastle defender James Tavernier did his chances of extending his current one-month deal no harm at all with an assured first-half display which showcased good technique as well as astute attacking instincts.

Town did produce a couple of slightly nervous-looking touches at the back early on, though, but that aside they contained the Dons attack comfortably.

Anthony Kay's long-range drive just before half-time, which flew over, and a scuffed Luke Chadwick effort were the best that Karl Robinson's side produced before the break.

Turner's post-game assessment was his team lacked a bit of belief in the first half. And it was something that frustrated the home fans as the ball went back to defence or goalkeeper a couple of times too many as decent passing moves broke down.

But they showed no such inhibitions after the break as they bossed the next 30 minutes in a spell they will feel they should have made more of.

It was the Dons that had the first chance of the second half, requiring Jacobson's last-ditch challenge to dismantle a swift attack down the left flank.

But when John Marsden, on his Football League debut, warmed Martin's fingertips a minute later, it signalled the start of a long purple patch for the hosts.

He would get another bite at the cherry 15 minutes later, when he pounced on Jon Taylor's cross only to again find Martin equal to his low goal-bound drive.

Parry's curling free-kick which had Martin scrambling towards his far post on its way just wide was another effort which showed no lack of confidence, while Summerfield and Taylor also went close with long-range efforts.

When Aaron Wildig's boot met Jacobsen's 79th minute cross it looked like Town's dominance would be rewarded, only for Martin to block from very close range.

And Town were almost punished for their wastefulness late on when George Baldock and Izale McLeod both went close for the hosts. Stephen Gleeson also missed the target after escaping his marker from a well-worked corner routine.

Chris Weale's one-handed save from Baldock late on was particularly impressive, but Town remained ambitious as they tried to hit their hosts on the break.

It was hardly immaculate and it was not the dream start fans spend those long three months between seasons dreaming of.

Only time will tell us exactly how useful a point this is, and just how strong an opponent Shrewsbury faced on Saturday.

As Turner pointed out, 'the encouraging part about it is that we can get better.'

On this evidence, they are not starting from a bad position, so that's an exciting prospect.

By Matthew Viney