Clockwatch is your minute-by-minute, constantly-updated guide to the action with MK Dons. Click refresh of press F5 for the latest updates as they happen.
Roberto Di Matteo: "It was very hard for us in the first half to get into our rhythm, but we knew before the game it wouldn't come straight away.
"We had 10 days without training on grass so it was difficult, but I have to say in the second half we showed our full strength. We showed what we can do.
"I think the equaliser was vital because we got it so quickly after conceding, that was very important. Then in the second half we thought we'd be on top of them, and we always come on strong at the end of the game."
FULL-TIME: MK DONS 3 HARTLEPOOL UNITED 1
Dons come from behind to claim a big three points in the promotion race, but boy were they made to wait for it.
Having fallen behind to Rune Lange's goal on 36 minutes after a mistake from Alan Navarro, the Dons hit back instantly when Canadian Ali Gerba, in to replace the suspended Aaron Wilbraham, scrambled home from close range a minute later.
But Roberto Di Matteo's men looked like being held during an hard-fought second half until skipper Dean Lewington forced a breakthrough with a deft header from Jemal Johnson's cross with four minutes to go.
With Hartlepool pushing forward desperately, the Dons hit them hard for a third in injury time when substitute Tore Andre Flo passed up the chance of a first Dons goal to tee up Gerba for a second.
With Leicester, Peterborough, Millwall and Scunthorpe all dropping points around them, today is a good day to be a Don.
90+4mins - Dons make a final change as Carl Magnay comes on to replace Baldock.
90+3mins - GOAL! MK DONS 3 HARTLEPOOL UNITED 1 - ALI GERBA
Game over now as the Dons wrap things up, Gerba the scorer but a big slice of the praise must go to the selfless Flo. Gerba holds the ball up superbly with Nelson at his back before sending a brilliant pass into the inside right channel for Flo. The flag stays down as the Norwegian races in on Lee-Barrett before unselfishly rolling the ball left to the arriving Gerba to sweep into an unguarded net.
90+2mins - 'Pools work the ball left to right to get Sweeney into some space out wide, but his cross goes straight behind for a goal-kick as the Dons breathe another sigh of relief.
90mins - Four minutes to be added on as the Dons look to close this out. This would be a big three points on a day where they've not quite been at their best.
89mins - Lewington's second goal of the season, and they've both come against Hartlepool. It wasn't quite as sensational as his long-range piledriver at Victoria Park, but he enjoyed it just as much. Hartlepool desperately trying to mount a response late in the day, but Humphreys' long throw is won in the air by Navarro and Gueret gets out to catch the loose ball.
86mins - GOAL! MK DONS 2 HARTLEPOOL UNITED 1 - DEAN LEWINGTON
What a huge contribution from the skipper, but what was he doing getting on the end of that!? Johnson raids past Sweeney on the left for the umpteenth time today before whipping a dangerous low ball into the near post. Lewington has charged forward and stoops to glance the deftest of headers across goal and inside Lee-Barrett's far post.
86mins - Second change for the visitors sees Alan Power on to replace Rowell.
85mins - Mistake from Liddle in midfield allows Leven to find Johnson on the left, and the winger moves infield before hitting a right-foot shot that goes a couple of feet over from 18 yards.
83mins - Leven tries a delicate ball over the top of the 'Pools defence but it has just too much pace on it and bounces towards Lee-Barrett rather than the chasing Gerba. Time running out for a winner.
82mins - Change for the visitors as Michael Mackay comes on to replace Foley.
80mins - Well the good news is that Nelson is on his feet, though he does look a bit groggy, and he's going to play on.
79mins - The referee stops play with Michael Nelson lying seemingly unconscious inside the Hartlepool box, having contested a header with Stirling from Johnson's corner. Stirling quickly and responsibly rolls the stricken defender into the recovery position as the physio races onto the pitch.
78mins - Dons make another change as Tore Andre Flo comes on to replace Chadwick.
77mins - The intention is there from the Dons, but not quite the application as Leven and Baldock patiently work possession in midfield before springing forward with a ball to Gerba. The Canadian controls but his pass out to Chadwick on the right is just behind the wide man and goes out for a throw-in.
75mins - Attendance of 8,657 inside stadiummk this afternoon, with 338 having made the journey from Hartlepool. Johnson's deep cross from the left arrives at Chadwick's feet beyond the far post, but his curling shot goes through the legs of Leven and out for a goal-kick.
73mins - Henderson fails to take advantage of acres of space inside the Dons box from Foley's pass. His touch lets him down and Stirling clears well.
72mins - The life has drained out of the game a little bit as the pace dips dramatically. Johnson tries to feed Baldock in a good position on the edge of the box but the flag goes up for offside.
68mins - Dons nearly unlock the door as Lewington's pass into the inside left channel finds Baldock in the box, but his shot under Lee-Barrett gets enough of a flick off the 'Pools keeper to take it wide. Close, but no cigar.
65mins - First change for the Dons and a welcome return for Peter Leven. He replaces Puncheon in the midfield.
65mins - Lewington feeds Johnson on the left and his drifting cross is well held by Lee-Barrett in the centre.
63mins - Navarro finds Chadwick in space halfway inside the 'Pools half but having carried the ball forward, he doesn't connect with the shot as he would have liked and Lee-Barrett saves easily.
61mins - Navarro gets a final warning after bundling Rowell off the ball on halfway. It looked a generous decision but we don't think Navarro will get away with any more.
58mins - Gueret's long kick downfield flicks off the head of Nelson and Sweeney doesn't make much better a job of the clearance. Puncheon picks it up 25 yards out but tries an ambitious shot from range which goes a fair way off target.
56mins - Nelson finds himself a long way upfield and is brought down by Navarro on the Hartlepool right. No words from the referee but Navarro has got to watch his step, he's already on a booking.
54mins - Dons working very hard to keep the ball moving but Hartlepool are working just as hard to close them down. It's all a little tight in the final third and Hartlepool's confidence is growing again as they keep the Dons at bay.
50mins - Lovely move through the Dons midfield as Chadwick feeds Johnson down the left flank before charging into the box to meet the return. His first-time shot is held well by Lee-Barrett.
46mins - Terrific feet from Puncheon out on the right flank as he dummies Nelson several times before chipping a cross in right-footed. Gerba can't reach it in the middle and Chadwick can't reach Collins' poor headed clearance.
4.08pm - SECOND HALF KICKS OFF
Dons get us back underway, attacking the Cowshed in this second half.
HALF-TIME: MK DONS 1 HARTLEPOOL UNITED 1
Dons head for the break on level terms having hit back quickly after going behind, Canadian Ali Gerba cancelling out Rune Lange's opener for 'Pools.
It had been pretty even in the opening quarter, with both sides keeping good possession but limited to shots from range, until a mistake brought the game to life.
Alan Navarro tried a header back to his goalkeeper from halfway inside his own half on 36 minutes, only to turn in horror as Lange brought it down and finished having trotted back from the last attack.
But it sparked the game into life as the Dons responded superbly, with the outstanding Jemal Johnson causing huge problems for Hartlepool down the left.
The American produced his latest dangerous cross just a minute later, finding the head of Luke Chadwick at the far post and Gerba smashed home the knockdown.
The Dons have been right on the front foot since then, Michael Nelson and Sam Collins forced into big interventions from Johnson and Jason Puncheon crosses, while Dean Lewington produced a brilliant save from Arran Lee-Barrett and a delightful one-two with Chadwick.
All to play for and Hartlepool are certainly in with a shout, having forced some decent saves from Willy Gueret albeit from distance.
45+2mins - Wonderful play from the home side and so nearly a terrific goal from Lewington. Lewington's pass into Chadwick inside the left edge of the box sees Chadwick leave Rowell for dead with a wonderful turn, before pulling back for the arriving Lewington inside him. The Dons skipper pulls a left-footed shot across goal from 14 yards and Lee-Barrett dives full-length to push it wide.
45+1mins - Baldock's touch down to Chadwick in midfield allows Chadwick to feed Puncheon on the right. His low cross is cleared by Nelson as Gerba tries to convert it.
45mins - Rune Lange is outmuscled by Lewington in the centre circle and clatters into the Dons skipper as a result. Referee plays advantage but does not come back to the incident.
43mins - Hartlepool still look capable as Henderson takes aim from 20 yards having shaken off Navarro and Gueret gets down well to his right to make a smart save.
42mins - Puncheon collects Regan's pass on the right before driving inside and firing a 22-yard shot just past the far top-corner. Great hit and oh so close.
41mins - Dons trying to turn on the pressure having built some momentum and Hartlepool are having nightmares with the evasive Johnson down the left. The American almost went round Lee-Barrett from Chadwick's clever pass moments ago and is causing havoc out wide.
37mins - GOAL! MK DONS 1 HARTLEPOOL UNITED 1 - ALI GERBA
Dons hit back straight away and Navarro puts a big pat on the back of Ali Gerba. Johnson produces another brilliant dart down the left flank, chipping his cross to the far post. Chadwick climbs to head it back across goal and Gerba fires it past the defender on the line from close range.
36mins - GOAL! MK DONS 0 HARTLEPOOL UNITED 1 - RUNE LANGE
A gift of a goal for the visitors and Alan Navarro stands, hands on knees in disbelief. The Dons midfielder tries to send a bouncing ball straight back to Willy Gueret with a header from halfway inside his own half, but hadn't seen the lurking Lange coming back from the last attack. The Norwegian strides into the box and dinks over Gueret despite the Frenchman's touch.
34mins - Johnson drives down the outside on the left again, fizzing a low ball into the box which flicks off Gerba's heels as he tries to turn on it and trickles through to Lee-Barrett.
33mins - Puncheon whips a pacy free-kick in from the Dons right and Nelson's flick goes straight into the arms of Lee-Barrett. Fortunate.
32mins - Good work from Chadwick and Johnson down the left to send the former into space. Chadwick works his way infield as red and black shirts scamper back before switching to Puncheon on the right, but his volley is an ambitious one and flies over from 20 yards.
31mins - Llera goes into the book for a trip on the breaking Foley, but the Dons are furious the Hartlepool man was able to continue having clearly handled the ball on halfway.
30mins - The instructions become obvious as Baldock moves up front to partner Gerba and Puncheon drifts out to the right flank. A switch to 4-4-2 for the home side.
29mins - Chadwick comes to the bench to speak to Roberto Di Matteo, who hands him some instructions that Chadwick relays to Navarro. Monkhouse tries his luck with a shot from 20 yards on the left but it sails over the bar.
26mins - Chadwick causes some panic in the 'Pools midfield causing Rowell to cough the ball up and Johnson seizes on it, placing a left-footed shot towards the left post but Lee-Barrett is down well to save it. Gueret gets down in similar fashion to plunge on a firm 20-yard strike from Liddle.
24mins - Navarro's searching pass out to Johnson on the left forces Sweeney to head behind for a corner. It's delivered by Johnson but caught at the far post by Lee-Barrett with Stirling lurking behind him.
23mins - Some good possession work from both sides but it's lacking a cutting edge at the moment. Both sides are without their leading scorers in Wilbraham and Porter and have not looked as threatening as a result.
19mins - Baldock has come to life in the last few minutes and bursts in off his right flank, playing a one-two with Gerba before mis-hitting his shot from 25 yards. Got a little carried away there.
18mins - Navarro feeds Johnson with a lovely pass out to the left flank and Johnson goes outside Sweeney, crossing deep to the far post where Baldock is just beaten in the air by the back-pedalling Collins. Better from the home side.
17mins - Brilliant defending from Stirling, who holds off Lange behind him as he runs towards his own goal before giving the Norwegian the slip and clearing down the left.
16mins - Rowell wriggles free of Puncheon on the right corner of the Dons box, dinking his cross into the centre where Monkhouse heads straight at Gueret from an identical position to Henderson moments before.
15mins - Hartlepool free-kick swung into the Dons box by Rowell from the right and Henderson heads straight at Gueret from around 16 yards. Barely even half a chance.
13mins - Chadwick gets free in the hole for the first time, controlling and feeding it out to Johnson on the left flank. The American's delicate cross is aimed for Gerba, who controls on his chest and attempts an acrobatic volley that goes a long way over.
11mins - Hartlepool have certainly come to play this afternoon and are employing a relatively-adventurous 4-4-2 led by Henderson and Norwegian Rune Lange. Dons yet to string much together yet as Chadwick is halted by Liddle in midfield.
8mins - Humphreys' second attempt hits the wall and flies behind for a corner. Gueret catches it cleanly and is then impeded by Henderson as he tries to throw out quickly. Booking for the 'Pools striker.
7mins - Navarro goes into the book for trying to charge down the free-kick, which had been shifted for Humphreys to hit. He'll get another bite.
6mins - Alan Navarro brings down Jonny Rowell with a bit of a high one on the edge of the Dons box, central position. Good opportunity to get a shot away for the visitors . . .
4mins - Dean Lewington left in a bit of a heap as he jumps for a ball with Foley down the Hartlepool right. Foley gets away into the box and crosses low from the flank, but he lacks support and Regan is able to clear with time at the far post. The physio is on for Lewington, who is holding his right leg.
2mins - Dons players looking to get a good feel of the ball in the opening stages, popping passes between the back four and midfield as they try to get used to the conditions. The ball is running true, though it may bounce a little higher than normal if the pitch is as firm as expected.
3.02pm - KICK OFF
Referee Oliver Langford gets the game underway - Hartlepool kicking off in black and red striped shirts, black shorts and red socks. The Dons, all in white, are defending the Cowshed in the first half.
2.59pm - Great reception for the teams as they emerge. Around 150 'Pools fans have braved the long trip south, while the Cowshed is as noisy as you would expect. Willy Gueret completes his pre-match ritual of wishing every team mate good luck, Johnson comes to the touchline for a quick word with Eddie Newton and we're nearly ready for the off.
2.57pm - A big mention must go to the groundstaff at stadiummk this afternoon, as well as the countless volunteers who have donated their time this week to get the pitch ready for action. You'd never know that the surface was almost completely covered on Thursday morning, it's as green a pitch as you are likely to find in the country at this time of year and, while we're sure the moulded option will have been the players' footwear choice today, it looks reasonably soft underfoot as the players enter the arena.
2.53pm - With Gerba replacing Wilbraham in the Dons attack, the home side are expected to stick with the 4-5-1 formation of recent weeks but the personnel involved suggests it will be anything but defensive. Expect Jason Puncheon and Luke Chadwick to bomb forward from central positions, leaving Alan Navarro to hold in behind them. Jemal Johnson will be hoping to continue his outstanding form with more rampaging stuff down the left, while Sam Baldock is expected to rain in from the right.
2.50pm - HARTLEPOOL TEAM NEWS - Wholesale changes for the visitors, though several of them are enforced. Defender Ben Clark, midfielder Matty Robson and striker Daniel Nardiello all miss out through suspension while Jamie McCunnie also misses out with knee ligament trouble. Leading scorer Joel Porter is the other absentee from the side that drew 2-2 with Walsall last week.
HARTLEPOOL UNITED: Arran Lee-Barrett, Ritchie Humphreys, Michael Nelson (c), Sam Collins, Gary Liddle, Andy Monkhouse, Antony Sweeney, David Foley, Jonny Rowell, Rune Lange, Liam Henderson.
SUBS: Alan Power, Michael Mackay, Martin Young, Joe Tait, Mark Cook.
2.48pm - DONS TEAM NEWS - Two changes for the Dons from the side that beat Stockport 11 days ago. Top scorer Aaron Wilbraham sits today's game out through suspension and is replaced by Ali Gerba up front. The defensive-minded Flavien Belson drops to the bench to be replaced by Sam Baldock, as Roberto Di Matteo gets on the front foot at home.
MK DONS: Willy Gueret, Jude Stirling, Dean Lewington (c), Miguel Llera, Jemal Johnson, Carl Regan, Sam Baldock, Jason Puncheon, Ali Gerba, Alan Navarro, Luke Chadwick.
SUBS: Nathan Abbey, Carl Magnay, Peter Leven, Flavien Belson, Tore Andre Flo.
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Ali Gerba replaces Aaron Wilbraham for the Dons v Hartlepool. |
2.39pm - Welcome back to stadiummk, it seems like an age since we were here watching the Dons last, two-and-a-half weeks to be precise and we've no doubt Milton Keynes is delighted to be hosting its football team once more.
Today's game had been something of a doubt following the overnight frost, but groundstaff and volunteers from the city have performed heroically to get the game on. Forty-eight hours ago the pitch was almost covered in snow, thirty minutes before kick-off it looks in fantastic shape.
The Dons come into the game on the back of an 11-day break since that big win at Stockport. The last time they had such a period without a game they went four without a win. They'll be hoping to avoid that this afternoon and come away with a third straight win to keep the pack chasing their second-place at bay.
Hartlepool have been something of an inconsistent side in recent weeks, with only one defeat in their last five but only one win to compliment that stat. They sit 13th in the table, 15 points outside the playoffs and eight clear of the drop zone. If they're to make something of their season, the time is now.
The action gets underway from 3.00pm, with ongoing updates here on Clockwatch or live commentary with Mikey Burrows and Paul Mitchell on Dons World.
