Milton Keynes Dons scored two dramatic goals in the dying minutes against 10-man Wycombe to keep their automatic promotion dream alive.

Gary Smith's goal on 87 minutes and Izale McLeod's 24th goal of the season in injury time coupled with Swindon Town's defeat at Bristol Rovers closed the gap between the two to three points with one game to play.

An incredible travelling Dons support were made to bite their nails until the very death after Swindon had gone behind in the first half. But Smith's strike after Sean O'Hanlon's effort had been blocked finally broke Wycombe's brave resistence after Jermaine Easter was sent off for an elbow on 25 minutes.

McLeod made a useful addition to the goal difference tally that could prove so crucial after racing clear onto Gareth Edds' headed pass as Martin Allen's men took the promotion chase to the final day in the most dramatic of circumstances.

To say that McLeod's inclusion from the start was a surprise was an understatement and the cheer from the away end that greeted the announced confirmation was a sign of things to come. Indeed, Allen and Adrian Whitbread made a point of saluting the 1,510 travelling MK Army before kick-off.

O'Hanlon's return to the side after a hamstring problem was an additional boost and the pace and trickery of a Lloyd Dyer/Albert Jarrett wing combination was not something the Chairboys would have been relishing.

Wanderers manager Paul Lambert also made three changes with goalkeeper Jamie Young and defenders Scott Golbourne and Lewis Christon coming into the side. Former Dons defender Leon Crooks was named among the substitutes.

McLeod's threat in behind was very quickly apparent as Christon looked unsure whether to drop deep or step forward looking for offside. Clive Platt's hold-up play gave him his first chance as he skipped onto the big man's pass but a heavy touch forced him too wide to trouble Young.

A better chance would come on 12 minutes when Jarrett showed good awareness to meet Young's poor goal-kick and put McLeod in again, but the striker was unable to find the net as he lobbed over both Young and the crossbar.

A speculative drive from Easter aside, Wycombe were up against it and after Keith Andrews headed Dean Lewington's cross fractionally over, Jarrett curled a left-foot shot from the edge of the box that Young tipped over the bar.

Action-packed it was but not overly spicy. That was until Easter saw red on 25 minutes after seemingly no provocation. The Wanderers striker went flying into an aerial challenge with Lewington on the edge of the box, leading with an arm according to referee Mr Hall, and left the Dons full-back flat on his back.

It sparked a series of strong challenges from the home side, with Anthony Grant clattering into Lewington to earn a caution while both Christon and Oakes escaped the same fate despite going through McLeod.

Sergio Torres jinked away from Dominic Blizzard to sting Ademole Bankole's hands from 25 yards and Tommy Mooney's free-kick deflected just wide for Wycombe but the Dons could have gone in ahead when McLeod and Andrews combined brilliantly.

The Dons skipper lined up a 70-yard pass over right-back Russell Martin's head then proceeded to drop the ball on a six-pence or, more precisely, McLeod's chest. The Dons hitman raided into the box, away from Christon but skied his shot over the bar from 12 yards.

Wycombe started the second period with zest as Torres showed good skill to get away from Lewington on the right and cross to Scott Golbourne who fired over the bar.

It was something of a surprise that Wycombe, with their numerical disadvantage, were trying to stretch the game rather than playing as a compact unit. But on a hot day, chasing the ball around was not something they were prepared to do so they tried to take the game to the Dons.

With the hour mark reached and Bristol Rovers doing everything asked of them, Allen introduced Smith into midfield to try to prize an opening.

Wycombe's energy began to wain and as the Dons tried to find a way through, they became more and more content to stop them. But in need of a win as they were to keep their play-off hopes alive, the Chairboys still had to push forward.

If Smith's introduction was a signal of intent, the sight of Leon Knight and Jonny Hayes having their studs checked by the fourth official was a plain statement: a goal was needed and time was running out.

Had Hayes opened the scoring with 17 minutes to go it would have been a goal fit to win this game or any other in memory. Setting off from the halfway line, the on-loan Reading winger drove at the heart of the Wycombe defence, twisting and turning, leaving five defenders in his wake.

All that it needed was a finish to crown a stunning run, but the 19-year-old's right-foot shot was deflected just wide.

The Dons need was dire, highlighted by the sight of Platt- the man nicknamed the Tree by Allen for his lack of mobility earlier in the season- chasing Torres 70 yards into the Dons penalty area to regain possession 15 minutes from time.

The action was pulsating at both ends and Matt Bloomfield nearly broke the deadlock on 81 minutes. Jinking past O'Hanlon into the box, he managed to tee up Mooney 15 yards out. Bankole made a superb block from point-blank range and when Bloomfield followed up, Hayes of all people cleared off the line.

But the Dons refused to lie down and gave themselves the lead in the most dramatic of circumstances through the ever-alert Smith.

Andrews slipped a wonderful ball down the inside left channel for McLeod who finally escaped the assistant's flag to stand a cross into the box. Platt won the first ball, O'Hanlon's effort was blocked and Smith arrived at the far post to slot cooly into the net.

The celebrations were ecstatic, but with goal difference still an issue the Dons supporters prayed for more. McLeod delivered it two minutes into injury time.

Racing onto Edds' deep header out of defence, the Dons top-scorer flew past Christon into the box before angling a brilliant, low, left-footed shot past Young into the far corner.

The confirmation of Swindon's 1-0 defeat at the Memorial Stadium meant mission impossible suddenly became an achievable ship on the Dons' horizon.

The Dons face Accrington Stanley at The Ground next Saturday knowing a win, a Swindon defeat at home to already-promoted Walsall and a four goal turn-around will send them into League One.