MK Dons suffered consecutive defeats for the first time this season as bottom club Wrexham turned the tables on the League 2 leaders.

Neil Roberts' controversial winner, 19 minutes from the end of an ugly contest, ended a run of seven straight defeats for the Dragons, whose battling qualities came to the fore on a quagmire of a Racecourse pitch.

A deft chip from 20 yards, it was a finish completely out of place in a game that was literally bogged down by the conditions, though the scrappy build-up that preceded it was typical.

Dons goalkeeper Willy Gueret felt he was blocked by Phil Bolland as he came to punch Danny Sonner's left wing corner, but with the ball at Keith Andrews' feet the visitors looked to have escaped.

Andrews' clearance was a poor one and when it fell straight to Roberts, the Dragons midfielder clipped the ball over a crowd of bodies and into the net.

It sparked wild celebrations among 4,000 Wrexham fans starved of anything to cheer about this season, but my goodness did they make up for it today.

Loud, vociferous and passionate, the home supporters' efforts visibly lifted Wrexham from the first whistle. Every tackle won, every Dons shot blocked, every decision that went their way or the other was met with a wall of sound that made it feel more like 40,000 inside the Racecourse.

Colin Cameron and Danny Sonner battle for possession.

Their spirit was personified in defenders Steve Evans and, in particular, captain Richard Hope.

Hope must wish he could play the Dons every week. The last time the Dons came up against the giant 29-year-old was in last season's play-off semi-final when, in the colours of Shrewsbury, he broke MK hearts with a performance of such dominance even the enormous Clive Platt was unable to overcome him.

Alongside Evans and Bolland, Hope put up a stubborn resistance throughout as lone striker Aaron Wilbraham tried desperately to keep the Dons on the front foot.

Granted, they had their moments of luck, not least when Colin Cameron sidefooted wide after Andrews' burst into the box had allowed him to tee up his midfield colleague 12 yards from goal.

Much improved on last week's defeat to Barnet, the Dons had the better of the first half despite finding genuine chances difficult to come by against a resurgent Dragons defence.

Dean Lewington steers clear of Michael Proctor.

Andrews whistled a 30-yard free-kick over the bar after being caught late by Bolland and was in the thick of it again just before the break when he took up a good position in the box to receive Colin Cameron's pass but saw his clever lay-off to Mark Wright hacked clear.

A header from Evans from a Sonner cross aside, Wrexham had battled hard but created little in a first half disjointed by the players desperately coming to terms with the marsh-like pitch.

Luke Howell made early inroads for the visitors down in the right after the break, first shooting just past the near post from 25 yards before supplying a dangerous cross that Gavin Ward had to dive full-length to punch away.

Wrexham battled back but were not seeing many decisions from referee Clive Oliver go their way, something the home support were more than happy to point out.

When they were given the benefit of the doubt for a foul by Drissa Diallo 25 yards from goal, Michael Proctor and Chris Llewellyn fell over their own feet to allow Alan Navarro to clear.

Having thrown on Lloyd Dyer in search of a winner, the Dons started up the pressure but when three separate Wrexham defenders threw themselves in front of respective shots from Navarro, Wilbraham and Jemal Johnson on 68 minutes, you knew it would take something special to break them.

The fact that Roberts' goal came just three minutes later was reward for that bodyline defending but much more would be needed as the Dons threw caution to the wind.

Hope was spot-on with a tackle on Wright inside the area after the winger had combined with Johnson to make space on the right and Diallo headed a Dean Lewington corner fractionally wide with five minutes to go.

Jemal Johnson looks for a way through the Wrexham defence.

Having kept the way shut for 89 minutes, the Wrexham defence just refused to buckle under the Dons siege late on, substitute Kevin Gallen seeing yet another shot blocked by a flying body after being set up by Wilbraham.

The Dons' lead at the top is now seven points after Rotherham's home draw with Wycombe, but Hereford could cut it to five with a win at Chesterfield on Monday.

Bitter though defeat will have tasted to Paul Ince and his players, it is not a result likely to break the Dons' season.

With a bit of luck in the next few weeks, it could just make Wrexham's.

Wrexham (5-3-2): Ward, Spender, Bolland, Evans, Hope (c), Tremarco, Roberts, Sonner, Llewellyn, Hall (Proctor 34), Nicholson (Whitley 90).

Subs not used: Williams, Pejic, Done

Goal: Roberts 71

Booked: Evans, Nicholson, Spender.

MK Dons (4-3-3): Gueret, Howell (Gallen 75), Diallo, O'Hanlon, Lewington, Navarro, Andrews (c), Cameron (Dyer 61), Wright, Wilbraham, Johnson (Carbon 87).

Subs not used: Abbey, Hadfield.

Booked: Wilbraham, Johnson.

Referee: Clive Oliver (Northumberland)

Attendance: 4,319