MK Dons beat Bradford City 4-1 at Stadium MK as Mike Williamson secured his first victory as Head Coach in style.

First-half goals from Joe Tomlinson and Jack Payne gave Williamson’s men the lead at the break despite Alex Gilliead’s well-taken strike.

Max Dean added a third with an hour on the clock before Alex Gilbey put the icing on the cake of a first Sky Bet League Two win in 10 attempts with a 90th-minute fourth.

Head Coach Williamson made three changes to his starting XI, with Jack Tucker, Conor Grant and Ethan Robson replacing Tommy Smith, MJ Williams and Mo Eisa.

Grant was the target of a through ball from Alex Gilbey, following a neat, quick passing move from MK Dons in the third minute. Unfortunately for the Irishman, the pass from his midfield teammate had a little too much on it.

They did, though, earn themselves a corner shortly after, and from the set-piece they opened the scoring.

Jack Payne, the taker, played it along the floor to an unmarked TOMLINSON, whose first-time effort from just inside the area made it through the crowd of players and past Harry Lewis. 1-0.

Tomlinson almost turned provider as the Dons went close to a quickfire second – the advanced wing-back teed up Gilbey on the edge of the box and the number 8’s right-footed drive was parried away by Lewis.

The Dons worked another great opportunity on 10 minutes, as Gilbey and Max Dean broke through on goal, after a neat flick-on from Grant. The former set up the latter but his effort was a little too close to Lewis, who saved.

Stadium MK thought they’d seen a second three minutes later when Tomlinson sent a right-footed shot towards goal, after being picked out by Dean’s cross. His effort looked to be heading for the net but, instead, crashed against the upright. Agonisingly close.

Despite their dominance, Williamson’s side weren’t able to extend their advantage and, on 16 minutes, they saw their lead go, as GILLIEAD drilled past MacGillivray from 25 yards, after the visitors had won possession inside the MK Dons half. 1-1.

Gilbey, in response, drove down the right-hand touchline and attempted a cutback for Dean, but the cross was intercepted. At the other end, Bradford’s Andy Cook headed wide from a ball delivered in from the MK Dons right.

Midway through the first half, Norman’s deep cross made its way through to Tomlinson, whose drive was diverted into the side netting by the body of Lewis. Brad Halliday then drilled one wide for Bradford, after a quick counter-attack.

Dean, who had been causing a nuisance for the Bantams defence in the opening half an hour, was the victim of two poorly-timed tackles from the visitors – the latter of which was recognised with a free-kick just past the hour.

PAYNE stepped up to take it, 30 yards from goal, and made Bradford pay by firing home an unstoppable drive – one which swerved away from the goalkeeper and into the top corner - to, deservedly, restore the Dons’ advantage. 2-1.

The Dons had a great opportunity to double their lead just four minutes later, after Tomlinson slid a ball through to Dean, who did well to hold his run and beat the offside trap. One-on-one, the striker wasn’t able to beat Lewis, though, and Gilbey couldn’t keep his shot on target on the rebound.

A superbly-timed tackle from Tucker prevented Bradford’s Tyler Smith from working a shot on goal with a minute remaining in the first half. Though, the interval was delayed by a relatively uneventful four minutes of stoppage time.

The first six minutes of the second half also had little to write home about, as the Dons rode a fast start from their opponents.

Williamson’s men then almost found a third through Dean but, somehow, Lewis was able to tip his fierce strike onto the woodwork, after Tomlinson’s excellent knockdown into his path. Payne cleared the crossbar from the loose ball.

Dean was through again on 54 minutes but, again, he was denied by the Bantams goalkeeper, who got enough on the striker’s shot to divert it onto the post. It did appear to be one of those days for MK Dons’ young striker, though that was until the hour mark when his deserved goal finally arrived.

Grant started the move with a through ball to Tomlinson down the left and he did brilliantly to drive clear of his man and then deliver a cross in for DEAN, who got in front his marker and stuck out a right leg, doing enough to direct the ball past Lewis and into the net. 3-1.

That proved to be Grant’s final involvement as he was replaced by Williams with 62 minutes on the clock, as Williamson looked to freshen up his midfield.

His side soon worked a good chance for Payne to extend the lead further but he was denied, one-on-one, by Lewis on 71 minutes. Williamson then made his second substitution, as Dean came off to a standing ovation – Eisa was the man brought on in his place.

He looked to the target of Norman’s cross, just seconds after coming on, though the right-back’s cross, instead, made its way through to Gilbey. He did well to adjust his body and get a header on goal but Lewis was able to make another save and deny him.

Robson almost provided a stunning fourth for the Dons but, after a driving run through the middle, he saw his curling 20-yard effort hit the outside of the side netting. He was withdrawn with a minute remaining in the 90 to be replaced by Dawson Devoy, who was on the pitch for just a matter of seconds when the Dons made sure of their victory.

Pouncing on a loose pass, GILBEY had a clear path to goal and, after driving into the area, he kept his composure in front of the Cowshed to slot home a fourth and leave no doubt about Williamson’s first victory as MK Dons Head Coach. 4-1.

MK Dons: MacGillivray, Norman, Tucker, O’Hora, Gilbey, Payne, Tomlinson, Grant (Williams 62), Robson (Devoy 89), Dean (Eisa 77), Harvie.

Subs: Kelly, Leko, Smith, Ilunga.

Goals: Tomlinson (4), Payne (31), Dean (60), Gilbey (90)

Bradford City: Lewis, Halliday, Ridehalgh, Taylor, Osadebe (Chapman 80), Cook (Smith 73), Gilliead, Stubbs, Pointon (Oyegoke 64), McDonald (Oduor 73), Wilson (Tulloch 64).

Subs: Doyle, Platt. Chapman.

Goal: Gilliead (17)

Booked: Taylor, McDonald, Ridehalgh, Stubbs

Referee: M Corlett.

Attendance: 5,510 (780 away)