MK Dons climbed to the top of League Two as Lloyd Dyer's first-half screamer gave them their fourth win in a row against Morecambe.

Dyer hit a 25-yard beauty 21 minutes into an even contest and it proved enough to beat Sammy McIlroy's resolute Shrimps.

It was a game that saw the home side waste some guilt-edged chances, Michael Twiss and Carl Baker the major culprits squandering two sitters in the first period, but they were unable to penetrate a Dons defence that has now gone four games without conceding.

While defensive pairing Sean O'Hanlon and Danny Swailes will testify to what a thorough examination McIlroy's men gave them, the Dons showed the determination and poise that will be needed at times this season to grind out the win.

Manager Paul Ince was able to name an unchanged side for the third game in a row - Leon Knight partnered by Aaron Wilbraham in attack and flanked by Lloyd Dyer and Jude Stirling.

Morecambe named winger Garry Thompson in place of Neil Sorvell and it was a decision that was truly justified - last season's Conference play-off hero a menace to the Dons from the early stages.

But it was the Dons who fashioned the first chance, Keith Andrews' free-kick from the left headed back across goal by Danny Swailes and wide from the luckless Wilbraham.

Aaron Wilbraham holds off Craig Stanley.

The striker might have been a little disappointed not to have scored but he set about making up for it immediately, sliding a ball in behind for Knight who got through on Joe Lewis and looked certain to shoot.

Dave Artell's challenge prevented him doing so, but Mr Oliver waved away Knight's pleas for a penalty.

The chances were coming thick and fast and the best of the game came Baker's way within a minute.

Thompson's cross from the right arrived at the striker's feet and, though Willy Gueret's excellent initial block deserved some reward, the Dons 'keeper couldn't believe his luck as Baker shanked the rebound wide with the goal gaping.

With six goals to his name already this season, Andrews was the man Morecambe were most wary of - crowding the Dons skipper out whenever he received the ball within range.

But they hadn't put the same emphasis on Dyer, who opened the scoring with a strike as good as anything the skipper himself has produced all season.

Spotting the winger completely unmarked on the edge of the 'D', Andrews took a quick free-kick from the left that Dyer pushed out of his feet and rifled high into Lewis's top corner in an instant.

The home side responded well with a decent spell of pressure but were unable to pass the Dons defence, determined to a man to keep their clean sheet intact.

When Thompson did manage to get away from Dean Lewington on the Morecambe right, his firm cross was met with a well-struck half-volley from Baker that flew just wide.

Navarro fired just wide from distance at the other end but Twiss should have brought the scores level four minutes before the break - lifting a shot over the crossbar with only Gueret to beat.

Lloyd Dyer runs at the Morecambe defence.

There was something of an edge to the start of the second half, as both Navarro and Stirling found themselves in the book - the first of a late tackle on Craig Stanley and the second for stopping a quick free-kick.

But just as the game looked like descending into a scrap, the Dons played with the poise that takes the sting out of games - keeping possession for sustained periods and controlling the pace of proceedings.

Dyer went on another mazy run to leave Adam Yates struggling behind him but fired a right-footed cross-shot wide.

It looked unlikely to be Baker's day when he sent a 22-yard free-kick into the stands and he didn't have much better luck minutes later when he dragged a shot wide after for once escaping the superb O'Hanlon.

The Dons supporters at the opposite end were certainly making themselves heard and they thought they were cheering a decisive second with eight minutes to go, but Stirling's follow-up to Dyer's long-range shot was flagged offside.

Swailes was forced to head off the line from Artell's header late on but with the Dons keeping possession well as time drained away, the home side were unable to build the necessary pressure to force an opening.

Whether it is something they are interested in at present is unlikely, but the Dons are sitting pretty at the top of League Two.

They go to Mansfield on Tuesday as the team to beat

Attendance: 2688