MK Dons flexed their striking muscles at Colchester United as Roberto Di Matteo's men secured a fourth league win of the season.

Di Matteo handed Canadian frontman Ali Gerba a long-awaited debut at the Weston Homes Community Stadium, but it was his established strike-force that did the damage.

Aaron Wilbraham's sweet second-minute opener and a late brace from substitute Sam Baldock increased the pressure on U's boss Geraint Williams in a game that was a lot tighter than the scoreline suggested.

The Dons were solid without being spectacular for long periods, forced to show plenty of defensive resolve against Colchester's physical attack, but struck with devastating effect at either end of the contest.

With Miguel Llera introduced in defence and Alan Navarro recalled to midfield, Di Matteo's suddenly looks spoilt for choice in a number of areas, but particularly up front.

Sam Baldock and Miguel Llera celebrate the Dons' third.

While the endeavour of Gerba was preferred to partner Wilbraham from the start, Baldock's sizzling cameo will stick in his manager's mind as the teenage striker took his tally for the season to five goals in nine games.

But Gerba's contribution, after just a week of full training with his new team mates, did a lot to suggest that he is equally capable of leading the line.

It was the third part of the trio though, that gave the Dons the perfect start just two minutes in.

Opening his body to accept Mark Wright's clipped pass from the left, Wilbraham was given far too much time 22 yards from goal and he punished Colchester emphatically.

Aaron Wilbraham fires the Dons in front.

It was not a finish of a man with just one goal to his name this season, but a player full of confidence as he pinged a wonderful half-volley past Dean Gerkan and into the bottom corner.

Typically, an explosive start did not lead to an end-to-end contest as the Dons set about consolidating and Colchester set about recovering.

Navarro was in his element, battling away in midfield in an intriguing contest with Colchester's David Perkins, and constantly popping up to seize on loose balls in the middle third.

Llera was slotting seamlessly into the defence alongside O'Hanlon, though they did have their hands full with giant former Dons striker Clive Platt, who seemed the home side's only outlet at times.

Miguel Llera goes into another aerial battle with former Dons striker Clive Platt.

Shaun Cummings almost twisted into shooting space on 28 minutes but from Dean Lewington's cross but Phil Ifil just put him under enough pressure to prevent a meaningful shot.

Wilbraham's cushioned pass then created an opening for Peter Leven whose cross-shot was blocked by U's skipper Chris Coyne.

As the break loomed, Colchester enjoyed a decent spell of pressure and came the closest they came all afternoon when Mark Yeates' 25-yard free-kick hit the outside of the post.

It lifted the home support for the first time, but they saw another chance go begging before the break when striker Sunday Wasiu hesitated after controlling Perkins' cross and saw the chance smothered by Dons 'keeper Willy Gueret.

Shaun Cummings gives Phil Ifil a headache.

A nervy second half looked to have been avoided on 56 minutes when Wilbraham turned Wright's cross-shot in from close range, but the former Stockport striker was denied a second by the assistant's flag.

The home fans were desperate for their side to build up a head of steam but the Dons defensive unit, led by Llera and O'Hanlon, refused to buckle and yielded few chances.

Platt fired a difficult chance high and wide on the turn before the frustration showed in Yeates, who left his foot in on Gueret as the Frenchman rushed out at his feet.

Keeping tight in their own territory, the Dons still looked a threat on the break and Wright nearly stabbed in a second from Carl Regan's cross with 20 minutes to play.

After 83 minutes of trying, Colchester finally managed to get in behind the Dons defence when substitute Dean Hammond escaped down the right. But from the resulting cross, Platt was whistled for a foul in the process of heading over.

Ali Gerba in the thick of the action on his Dons debut.

Baldock's introduction always made breakaways likely and, having threatened to stretch a tired U's defence already, the young speedster made the game safe with two goals in the final few minutes.

Navarro turned defender Paul Reid around with an intelligent driven ball and Baldock was snapping at his heels to force the mistake. When it came, Baldock was clear and he comfortably beat Gerkan with a cool finish.

It delighted the travelling fans behind the goal, who took Baldock to their hearts a long time ago, and the little livewire still had time for another.

Reid's defending was again questionable as Wilbraham breezed past him in the right side of the area and the pullback was gift-wrapped for Super Sam.

Colchester United (4-4-2): Gerkan; White (Elito 46), Coyne (c), Reid, Ifil; Yeates, Izzet (Hammond 75), Perkins, Jackson, Platt, Wasiu (Vernon 63).

Subs not used:

MK Dons (4-4-2): Gueret; Regan, O'Hanlon, Llera, Lewington (c); Cummings, Navarro, Leven, Wright; Wilbraham, Gerba (Baldock 72)

Subs not used: Abbey, Stirling, Johnson, Belson.

Goals: Wilbraham 2, Baldock 87, 90+3.

Booked: Wilbraham

Attendance: 4,888

Referee: Trevor Kettle (Rutland)