Aaron Wilbraham's second-half header gave MK Dons their first points of the season and the bragging rights in the local derby against Northampton Town.

Wilbraham forced Peter Leven's 66th-minute corner over the line, despite the best efforts of Cobblers midfielder Danny Jackman, to give Roberto Di Matteo's men their second 1-0 home win in five days.

It was a deserved victory for the men in white, who edged out their neighbours in the second half but might have made life more comfortable with some good chances going unconverted.

Florian Sturm, Kevin Gallen and Wilbraham himself all failed to find the net from good positions during the game but a resolute defensive performance ensured that one was enough.

They did have goalkeeper Willy Gueret to thank though, who made a plunging save at the feet of giant Cobblers hitman Adebayo Akinfenwa in injury time.

Presented with a Champions Flag from the Football League before kick-off following last season's League 2 triumph, the Dons showed flashes of the side that swept all before them last term.

But this is a team that is beginning to take on Di Matteo's own style, and they earned three points with a combination of patience, quality football and solid defending.

It was tough to pick the outstanding performer - Dean Lewington leading the team by example in the absence of Keith Andrews; Alan Navarro a bundle of activity with Leven against a three-man Cobblers midfield; Mark Wright finding his best form with a series of bursts down the right.

Aaron Wilbraham celebrates his winning goal.

All were elements to an impressive team performance that will have left Dons fans hugely optimistic about their chances this term.

They nearly got themselves in front just 12 minutes in when Sturm and Lewington combined down the left. Lewington's cross into the box was met firmly by Wilbraham, but Cobblers 'keeper Mark Bunn parried the ball to safety.

Up against a five-man defence, the Dons were finding the final pass difficult to perfect in the first period. Sturm and Baldock were not quite finding the right wavelength and Wright's relentless surges down the flank went unrewarded as his crosses were gobbled up by black shirts in the middle.

Northampton were doing well to get bodies forward though, Ryan Gilligan seeing a shot deflect over off Sean O'Hanlon before Akinfenwa missed the chance of the half.

Sam Baldock is just beaten to the ball by Mark Bunn.

Capitalising on some indecision between O'Hanlon and Danny Swailes, Akinfewa found himself clean through on Gueret 10 yards from goal. He failed to deal with the bouncing ball though and scuffed an awkward shot past the far post.

It seemed to fire up the visitors, and the 3,540 that had followed them to stadiummk, and Gueret had to be on his toes beat away another Akinfenwa drive on 33 minutes - the big striker finally starting to get some joy in his ongoing battled with Swailes.

That was as good as it would get for the Cobblers for some time as the Dons took over after half-time.

Wright continued to terrorise wingback Liam Davis down the Dons right, constantly on Navarro's radar as the Dons midfielder regularly picked him out with raking crossfield passes.

Wright did everything he could to create the opening goal on 58 minutes, raiding past Davis again before standing a cross to the far post.

Mark Wright takes on Ryan Gilligan

Sturm looked in the perfect position to convert it but, rising unchallenged, the Austrian planted his header wide from six yards.

You could sense the opening was coming though, and when Wright won a corner down the right, Leven and Wilbraham combined to provide it.

In truth, few Northampton players had any complaints about whether the ball had crossed the line. One thing was certain - Wilbraham was in no doubt.

He might have helped make the game safe moments later but was denied the opportunity by a highly controversial piece of officiating.

Florian Sturm battles with Jason Crowe.

A clash of heads halfway inside the Northampton half saw defender Gabor Gyepes needing treatment and Wilbraham leading a three-on-two charge at the Northampton defence.

With Wright about to be put clear, referee Gavin Ward blew the whistle for a head injury to the fury of the Dons bench.

Despite missing out on the chance to kill the game, the Dons still created chances to make the points safe. On for Baldock just before the goal, Gallen came about the closest when he shot straight at Bunn after running onto a Lewington pass on 79 minutes.

The local derby wouldn't have been complete without a bit of confrontation and it materialised with four minutes to go. Cobblers substitute Giles Coke waded in with an ugly tackle from behind on Leven, then decided to discuss with Scot's reaction with him at close quarters.

It passed with a booking for the Northampton man and a stern word for others getting involved.

With the final whistle in sight, the Dons understandably looked like settling for their one-goal lead. But a late attack nearly cost them as Northampton launched a counter.

Sub Colin Larkin got in behind their defences before squaring to Akinfenwa, who was only denied by the brilliance of Gueret.

MK Dons (4-4-2): Gueret, Regan, O'Hanlon, Swailes (Stirling 71), Lewington (c); Wright, Navarro, Leven, Sturm (Cummings 62); Wilbraham, Baldock (Gallen 62).

Subs not used: Abbey, Johnson.

Goals: Wilbraham (66)

Northampton Town (5-3-2): Bunn, Crowe, Gyepes, Hughes, Doig (c) (Coke 73), Davis; Gilligan (Larkin 81), Guttridge (Osman 55), Jackman; Constantine, Akinfenwa.

Subs not used: Holt, Dunn.

Booked: Guttridge, Coke.