A first half double strike from man-of-the-match Clive Platt, pictured right, was enough to see MK Dons past League Two side Lincoln City into the second round of the FA Cup.
The Red Imps performance was a pale shadow of the one which ran the Dons close in a 1-1 draw at Sincil Bank just over a week ago, and their long-ball game rarely threatened the home side, who were full value for their victory.
It lines up a trip to League One high-fliers Southend United in the next round, with the tie to be played at Roots Hall on the weekend of December 3rd.
MK Dons boss Danny Wilson was forced into two changes from the starting line-up which claimed a first away win in the 2-1 League One triumph at Tranmere Rovers on Saturday. With Stephen Quinn and Pablo Mills both refused permission to become cup-tied by Sheffield United and Derby County respectively, in came Nicky Rizzo on the left flank and Gareth Edds into the middle of midfield.
Linvoln had an excellent cross in the first minute when Lee Beevers whipped over a cross from the right, it beat the Dons defence and fell to Gary Birch just two yards out, but his mis-control allowed Matt Baker out to make a brave save at his feet and Trent McClenahan cleared his lines.
McLeod was slotted in down the left channel on five minutes by Lewington, but the striker lost his footing just as he was about to turn inside and the ball ran harmlessly into touch.
The game was pretty even in the opening stages, with both sides enjoying possession without managing to really find a cutting edge in the final third.
GOAL: The Dons edged ahead with a well-taken goal on 14 minutes. Trent McClenahan arrowed a perfect cross in from the right flank, and from eight yards out, Platt chested the ball down and sent a controlled finish past Alan Marriott in the Lincoln goal.
It was nearly 2-0 on 19 minutes when a clever knockdown from Platt looked to have found Edds in the middle of the 18-yard box, but he mis-timed his run and the chance went across the face of goal.
After taking the early lead the game looked to be going the Dons way as they controlled the game for the next spell, with much more possession and territorial advantage.
Derek Asamoah caused problems on 20 minutes, getting past McClenahan down the left but seeing his cross turned behind by Paul Mitchell.
Lincoln were given a penalty on 22 minutes when the ball was whipped in again by Beevers, and referee Michael Jones adjudged that Marvin Robinson had been pushed in the box by Craig Morgan.
GOAL: Paul Mayo stepped up to take the kick, blasting a left footer which, despite Baker's correct guess, beat his dive and flew into the back of the net.
Platt was not far away from a second on 29 minutes when Rizzo flashed in a free-kick from the left channel, the big striker glancing his header just high and wide of the target.
Jamie McCombe earned himself a yellow card for persistent fouling on 32 minutes, Platt the subject of most of his earlier misdemeanours.
Dean Lewington was given time and space to run at the Lincoln defence on 36 minutes and he did just that, eventually unleashing a left-footer from a good 35 yards out, which rose above the bar with Marriott covering.
McClenahan sent a testing cross over from the right on 40 minutes which McCombe had to do well under pressure to deal with, Mitchell firing the resulting effort well off target.
GOAL: The second goal came on 42 minutes, in much the same way as the first. After a spell of sustained pressure, McClenahan clipped in a cross from the right which found Platt ahead of his marker, and with the deftest of touches, the ball looped over Marriott into the top corner of the goal.
Half-time: MK Dons 2 Lincoln City 1
There was little goalmouth action of note in the opening stages of the second half as the sides cancelled each other out early on.
But it was the home side who continued to look more comfortable in possession, passing the ball around the midfield areas.
The first shot at goal came of the new period came on 56 minutes, but was well off-target from Small 30 yards out.
McLeod's control let him down on 58 minutes after Edds had played an intelligent short ball into his path inside the box.
Small earned himself an avoidable yellow card on 59 minutes. After a foul on Scott Kerr down the right channel, Mr Jones was content in giving just a free-kick, but the Dons winger argued the point enough to find his name going into the official's notebook.
A weak volley from Kerr on the hour mark became Lincoln's solitary effort of the half, but was an easy stop for Baker in the middle of his goal.
Lincoln made the first change of the night on 62 minutes, taking off Birch for Francis Green.
Mayo crashed a cross-shot narrowly off target on 68 minutes after Lincoln had caused the Dons problems from a testing left wing corner.
The Red Imps were certainly coming into the proceedings as the game ticked on, possessing more of a threat with their direct play.
A long boot forward from Marriott found tall centre-half McCombe in the box, but his back header at goal was met by a solid save from Baker on 69 minutes.
At the other end Edds tried his luck with a speculative 30-yard drive which was always rising over the crossbar on 71 minutes.
Another change for Lincoln on 73 minutes saw Robinson, scorer of the Red Imps goal in the tie at Sincil Bank recently, replaced by Mahetta Molango.
As the game wore on Lincoln's one-dimensional tactics became more and more apparent - aimless balls into the box looking to be met by an increasing posse of Lincoln players in the box.
Wilson made a change of his own on 75 minutes, throwing Leon Crooks on for Rizzo and moving Lewington into left midfield.
McCombe slid a weak shot at goal from 78 minutes, easy pickings for Baker. But it also showed that Lincoln would continue to pose a threat if the Dons tactic was to sit back and defend against the physical long-ball game.
Wilson's final change of the evening came on 85 minutes with Edds replaced by the fresh legs of Nick McKoy.
Molango's cross from the right provided a problem for Baker on 87 minutes, as he had to back-peddle to tip over his own bar.
The inevitable assault on the Dons goal ensued in he closing stages, but there was little in the way of scares as the Dons held on with relative comfort for their place in the next round.
Full-time: MK Dons 2 Lincoln City 1
