Report: Dons 7-0 Oldham Athletic
The men from MK1 scored seven for the first time in the Club’s history as they handed the Dons fans the perfect early Christmas present.
Karl Robinson’s side were 2-0 up at the break thanks to goals from Will Grigg and Dean Bowditch, but they really turned on the style in the second half.
Grigg added another before Darren Potter, Dele Alli, Benik Afobe and Carl Baker all got in on the act as they moved into the top two.
Samir Carruthers, Bowditch and Grigg replaced Daniel Powell, Ben Reeves (hamstring) and Afobe in the starting XI. Lee Hodson (ankle) and Mark Randall (groin) missed out.
Grigg almost got in on goal as early as the second minute from Kyle McFadzean’s ball over the top, but he couldn’t quite bring the ball down at the crucial time on the edge of the Latics’ box.
After bringing the ball down expertly on his chest, Bowditch fired over from 20 yards on five minutes as Karl Robinson’s men started firmly on the frontfoot.
The best chance of a Dons-dominant opening fell to Grigg, who saw his low drive deflect just wide after Carruthers had perfectly picked out the Northern Ireland international 15 yards from goal.
Even better was to come and go on 13 minutes when Baker forced Paddy Kenny into a smart save following a high-quality Dons move, which included Antony Kay, Alli, Bowditch and Grigg, who laid on the opportunity for the winger.
Constantly under the pressure, the visitors gave away an in-direct free-kick 12 yards out after Paddy Kenny was forced to pick up Brian Wilson’s back-pass with Grigg lurking. The men from MK1 made their opponents pay from the resulting set-piece on 17 minutes, Grigg smashing low past the former Leeds United stopper.
Bowditch tested Kenny with a curling effort midway through the first half after initially playing the ball out to the equally-lively Carruthers on the left-hand side while, at the other end, David Martin remained a spectator.
Grigg set up Baker on 30 minutes but, after brilliantly cutting back inside, the Dons’ No. 13 saw his low drive cleared off the line, with his rebound also being blocked as the Latics remained camped in their own half.
The visitors’ first attempt on goal didn’t arrive until 35 minutes in when Mike Jones fired off target from 30 yards, but Martin had to be alert a minute later when he superbly smothered Dominic Poleon’s effort after he had been put through one-on-one.
However, the Dons deservedly went 2-0 up on 41 minutes when, after exchanging passes with Baker, Bowditch swept home from close range – just reward for his vibrant performance.
Grigg’s movement almost created a third prior the break but he was crowded out before he had the opportunity to pick out the open Bowditch after bamboozling Genseric Kusunga on the halfway line.
The Brentford loanee bagged his second of the afternoon on 49 minutes, receiving the ball from Darren Potter, outmuscling two defenders in the box and then firing low into the bottom corner to make it 3-0.
It was 4-0 just two minutes later, and it arrived in some style too. Following good play by Carruthers, Potter played a nice one-two with Grigg before curling a beautiful effort into the far corner from a tight angle.
Jones almost pulled one back for the visitors on 65 minutes but he pushed his long-range effort wide of Martin’s left-hand post.
Robinson was able to introduce George Baldock, Afobe and Danny Green, but it was one of the starters, Alli, who burst forward from midfield before finding the bottom right-hand corner with a fine finish on 77 minutes – already his 10th goal of the season.
Afobe’s close-range header from Baker’s delivery on 84 minutes extended the lead before Baker secured the record-breaking success, rifling home from the edge of the box after Grigg had seen an effort saved.
A day to remember.
Starting XI: Martin; Spence, Kay (Baldock 64), McFadzean, Lewington (c); Potter, Alli; Baker, Bowditch (Afobe 68), Carruthers (Green 74); Grigg.
Unused subs: McLoughlin, Flanagan, Powell, Rasulo.
Goals: Grigg (17 & 49), Bowditch (41), Potter (51), Alli (77), Afobe (84), Baker (90).
Bookings: Baker, Spence.
Attendance: 7,998 (400 Oldham fans).
Karl Robinson’s side were 2-0 up at the break thanks to goals from Will Grigg and Dean Bowditch, but they really turned on the style in the second half.
Grigg added another before Darren Potter, Dele Alli, Benik Afobe and Carl Baker all got in on the act as they moved into the top two.
Samir Carruthers, Bowditch and Grigg replaced Daniel Powell, Ben Reeves (hamstring) and Afobe in the starting XI. Lee Hodson (ankle) and Mark Randall (groin) missed out.
Grigg almost got in on goal as early as the second minute from Kyle McFadzean’s ball over the top, but he couldn’t quite bring the ball down at the crucial time on the edge of the Latics’ box.
After bringing the ball down expertly on his chest, Bowditch fired over from 20 yards on five minutes as Karl Robinson’s men started firmly on the frontfoot.
The best chance of a Dons-dominant opening fell to Grigg, who saw his low drive deflect just wide after Carruthers had perfectly picked out the Northern Ireland international 15 yards from goal.
Even better was to come and go on 13 minutes when Baker forced Paddy Kenny into a smart save following a high-quality Dons move, which included Antony Kay, Alli, Bowditch and Grigg, who laid on the opportunity for the winger.
Constantly under the pressure, the visitors gave away an in-direct free-kick 12 yards out after Paddy Kenny was forced to pick up Brian Wilson’s back-pass with Grigg lurking. The men from MK1 made their opponents pay from the resulting set-piece on 17 minutes, Grigg smashing low past the former Leeds United stopper.
Bowditch tested Kenny with a curling effort midway through the first half after initially playing the ball out to the equally-lively Carruthers on the left-hand side while, at the other end, David Martin remained a spectator.
Grigg set up Baker on 30 minutes but, after brilliantly cutting back inside, the Dons’ No. 13 saw his low drive cleared off the line, with his rebound also being blocked as the Latics remained camped in their own half.
The visitors’ first attempt on goal didn’t arrive until 35 minutes in when Mike Jones fired off target from 30 yards, but Martin had to be alert a minute later when he superbly smothered Dominic Poleon’s effort after he had been put through one-on-one.
However, the Dons deservedly went 2-0 up on 41 minutes when, after exchanging passes with Baker, Bowditch swept home from close range – just reward for his vibrant performance.
Grigg’s movement almost created a third prior the break but he was crowded out before he had the opportunity to pick out the open Bowditch after bamboozling Genseric Kusunga on the halfway line.
The Brentford loanee bagged his second of the afternoon on 49 minutes, receiving the ball from Darren Potter, outmuscling two defenders in the box and then firing low into the bottom corner to make it 3-0.
It was 4-0 just two minutes later, and it arrived in some style too. Following good play by Carruthers, Potter played a nice one-two with Grigg before curling a beautiful effort into the far corner from a tight angle.
Jones almost pulled one back for the visitors on 65 minutes but he pushed his long-range effort wide of Martin’s left-hand post.
Robinson was able to introduce George Baldock, Afobe and Danny Green, but it was one of the starters, Alli, who burst forward from midfield before finding the bottom right-hand corner with a fine finish on 77 minutes – already his 10th goal of the season.
Afobe’s close-range header from Baker’s delivery on 84 minutes extended the lead before Baker secured the record-breaking success, rifling home from the edge of the box after Grigg had seen an effort saved.
A day to remember.
Starting XI: Martin; Spence, Kay (Baldock 64), McFadzean, Lewington (c); Potter, Alli; Baker, Bowditch (Afobe 68), Carruthers (Green 74); Grigg.
Unused subs: McLoughlin, Flanagan, Powell, Rasulo.
Goals: Grigg (17 & 49), Bowditch (41), Potter (51), Alli (77), Afobe (84), Baker (90).
Bookings: Baker, Spence.
Attendance: 7,998 (400 Oldham fans).
