Nine-man MK Dons heroically hung on for a point to stay top of League Two after a heated Bucks derby at Wycombe.

The Dons played the final 31 minutes two men short after first captain Keith Andrews and then winger Lloyd Dyer were given their marching orders in a crazy three-minute spell in the second half.

Colin Cameron's third goal of the season for the Dons on the stroke of half-time had cancelled out Matt Bloomfield's opener to leave the game finely poised as the second period got started.

But things started to go pear-shaped for Paul Ince's visitors when Andrews was sent-off for apparently handling a goal-bound shot from Sergio Torres.

Dons 'keeper Willy Gueret kept his side on par by blocking John Sutton's penalty but their mountain to climb became mission impossible when Dyer scythed down Chairboys full-back Tom Williams moments later.

Dyer hit the showers and the Dons were left staring down the barrel.

But with a spirit their manager showed so many times in his illustrious career, the depleted Dons, led by the immense defending of Sean O'Hanlon and Danny Swailes, refused to be broken and repelled wave after wave of Wycombe attacks to claim a famous point.

Aaron Wilbraham fires in a first-half shot for the Dons.

There seemed little of the notorious derby fever about the game from the start, both teams making one change as Cameron came in for the suspended Navarro and Will Antwi likewise for David McCracken.

The Dons started the game the stronger, forcing the home side back early-on with some well-constructed attacking play and Andrews conducting things. With one swift move down the left, Leon Knight's cross was headed back by Mark Wright into the path of Wilbraham, whose volley from 16 yards deflected to safety off Antwi.

Swailes headed just wide from a dangerous Dean Lewington cross with the Dons looking like league-leaders and it took Wycombe until the half-hour mark to create a chance of note.

Scott McGleish finally managed to shake off the shackles of O'Hanlon and looked in a good position to shoot in the box, but Drissa Diallo slammed the door shut with a timely block.

It instilled some belief in Paul Lambert's side as Torres and Martin Bullock came close to opening the Dons up with a neat one-two and they kept the pressure up with a couple of set-pieces

But there was nothing fancy about the way they opened the scoring, apart from Bloomfield's excellent run and finish.

Goalkeeper Frank Fielding boomed a clearance into the Dons half and when Sutton just beat Swailes to the header, Bloomfield was bursting through midfield to latch onto it.

His touch was assured as he raced into the box, and his finish was true - tucking the ball, right-footed, inside the far post as Gueret advanced.

Colin Cameron scores the Dons' equaliser just before half-time.

The Dons needed something to take into the break with them, and Cameron provided it two minutes into first-half stoppage time, with more than a little thanks to Dyer.

From Wycombe's own corner, the Dons broke down the left and Dyer left blue shirts trailing as he raced over halfway and towards the Wycombe box, Cameron busting a gut to assist him.

Bullock did well to force Dyer wide but as the winger turned back to cross, Cameron was all alone in the centre and had time to take a touch before lifting over Fielding from close-range.

The familiar baby-rocking celebration was a nice touch to mark the birth of Cameron's daughter on Tuesday, and a shot in the arm for the masses of vocal travelling support.

Mark Wright and Colin Cameron rock the baby following Cameron's equaliser.

The second-half was all set to be a cracker and when Wilbraham volleyed wide two minutes in it seemed an end-to-end 45 minutes would ensue.

But it never materialised as the match turned on its head in three minutes.

Russell Martin's corner from the right was only cleared as far as Torres and, well-struck though his shot was, the ball cannoned off Andrews to safety.

Despite massive protests from the Dons around him, referee Keith Stroud pointed to the spot and reached for the red card.

With the home support ready to celebrate a double whammy, Gueret silenced them, plunging low to his left to deny Sutton.

Willy Gueret superbly denies John Sutton from the spot.

The resulting corner was cleared but as Dyer tried to win the ball back and take the Dons forward, he was over-zealous in his tackle on Williams, whose reaction suggested it hadn't been the best tackle.

Dyer walked to the Dons' disbelief and with him went any chances of the Dons winning the game.

Gareth Edds came on for Knight as Ince switched to a 4-4-0 formation, but Wycombe were licking their lips at the thought of a two-man advantage.

The stall was set out, and it became a case of whether Wycombe could break the Dons down.

Wave after wave of blue shirts poured forward as the Dons ran themselves into the ground to block shots, head away crosses and keep themselves level.

Charged with the impossible task of holding the ball up as long as possible, Wilbraham was incredible. Time and again he turned Wycombe defenders around, held the ball in their half and won free-kicks when outnumbered to give his defenders whatever break he could.

But while the attacks kept coming, Wycombe were unable to carve out a chance as the Dons refused to let themselves be opened up. Balls were put into the box but time after time O'Hanlon, Swailes or Diallo rose highest to thump them back from whence they came.

Gueret was called into action again on 70 minutes when another Martin cross from the right was met by McGleish in the centre, but the Frenchman was sharp as a tack to tip his header round the post.

Wycombe's frustration at the Dons' refusal to roll over became apparent as Antwi was booked for a retaliation after a challenge from Wilbraham and their need became more and more desperate.

Mark Wright wins a header against Sergio Torres.

With every minute that passed and every block, tackle or clearance that was made, the relentless noise from the Dons supporters grew and the belief within the team swelled.

McGleish headed another deep cross well over before Bloomfield tried a different approach, slaloming his way into the box from the left before O'Hanlon threw himself in the way of his shot.

The noise grew louder still as the Dons fans rose to their feet for their battling side and the unthinkable flashed before their eyes when Wilbraham spun Antwi to push on into the Wycombe box.

Had he not run his socks off up to that point, Wilbraham may have had the legs to get a decent shot in, but the best he could do was pull the ball across the box to nobody, turn, and get ready to defend the next attack.

But despite throwing bodies forward at the death, Wycombe were unable to pierce the impenetrable Dons backline.

Dons fans might have taken a point when Andrews was dismissed. When Dyer went as well they might have hoped to keep it respectable.

What they got was a brave, spirited, determined performance from a team that have shown they have the grit as well as the quality to succeed.

The lead at the top may only be a point now, but the points in the psychological bank are priceless.

Sean O'Hanlon was immense for the Dons at Wycombe.

Wycombe Wanderers (4-4-2): Fielding, Martin, Johnson (Reid 74), Antwi, Williams, Bullock, Bloomfield, Holt (Oakes 83), Torres, McGleish, Sutton.

Subs not used: Stockley, Boucaud, Douglas

Goals: Bloomfield 37

Booked: Antwi

MK Dons (4-4-2): Gueret, Diallo, O'Hanlon, Swailes, Lewington, Wright, Cameron, Andrews, Dyer, Wilbraham, Knight (Edds 61).

Subs not used: Gallen, Smart, Johnson, Abbey.

Goals: Cameron 45

Booked: Wilbraham, Wright, Knight, Gueret

Sent off: Andrews 56, Dyer 59

Referee: Keith Stroud

Attendance: 5,929