The latest installment of our season rewind focuses on December, a historic month for the Football Club.
Sunday 2nd December: MK Dons 2-1 AFC Wimbledon – FA Cup Round 2
Jon Otsemobor scored an injury-time winner as MK Dons triumphed in their first meeting with AFC Wimbledon.
Stephen Gleeson’s superb strike just before half-time broke the deadlock for the hosts in a game that was watched live by millions across the country.
Ryan Lowe then had a goal disallowed for offside before AFC levelled when Jack Midson headed in a rare attack for the visitors, prompting a pitch invasion from the travelling supporters.
But, the Dons deservedly came out on top in the closing stages when Otsemobor cheekily back-heeled Zeli Ismail’s cross over goalkeeper Neil Sullivan in a dramatic finale at a packed-out stadiummk.
MK Dons (4-2-3-1): Martin; Otsemobor, Kay, Williams, Lewington (c); Potter, Gleeson; Bowditch, Chadwick (Kouo-Doumbe 90), Balanta (Ismail 66); Lowe (Smith 80).
Subs: McLoughlin, Chicksen, MacDonald, Sekajja.
Goals: Gleeson 45, Otsemobor 90+2
Booked: None
Sent off: None
Attendance: 16,459
League position: N/A
Saturday 8th December: Brentford 3-2 MK Dons – npower League 1
Striker Clayton Donaldson netted a last minute winner as Brentford condemned MK Dons to their first defeat in 10 games in a five-goal thriller at Griffin Park.
The Dons, who had twice blown three-goal leads in Middlesex, opened the scoring through Ryan Lowe who finished well after latching onto Stephen Gleeson’s pass.
Brentford’s’ Donaldson equalised before the break following some good work from Harry Forrester, only for Gleeson to restore the lead with a precise strike.
Forrester then turned in a loose ball to make it 2-2 before Donaldson bundled home his second late-on to snatch the victory.
MK Dons (4-2-3-1): Martin; Otsemobor, Kay, Williams, Lewington (c); Potter, Gleeson; Ismail (Powell 25), Chadwick (Smith 77), Balanta; Lowe (MacDonald 77).
Subs: McLoughlin, Kouo-Doumbe, Chicksen, Sekajja.
Goals: Lowe 14, Gleeson 53
Booked: Chadwick, Ismail
Sent off: None
Attendance: 7,443
League position: 6th
Saturday 15th December: MK Dons 1-0 Hartlepool United – npower League 1
Ryan Lowe scored for the third successive League game as MK Dons beat basement club Hartlepool United.
Lowe latched onto Darren Potter’s cross and placed a precise side-footed volley into the corner of the net to give the Dons an early lead.
Angelo Balanta, Luke Chadwick, Dean Lewington all went close to extending the Dons’ lead while Shaun Williams had a goal disallowed for an apparent shove.
Hartlepool, who failed to win for the 21st game in a row, rarely threatened although Jonathan Franks did go close to an equaliser in the second half.
The Dons, though, held on comfortably to secure their sixth win in their last eight League games.
MK Dons (4-2-3-1): Martin; Kouo-Doumbe, Kay, Williams, Lewington (c); Potter, Gleeson; Bowditch, Chadwick, Balanta (Ismail 61); Lowe (MacDonald 83).
Subs: McLoughlin, Chicksen, Smith, Powell, Sekajja.
Goals: Lowe 16
Booked: None
Sent off: None
Attendance: 7,164
League position: 5th
Saturday 26th December: MK Dons 2-4 Walsall - npower League 1
MK Dons suffered their second defeat in three games a six-goal Boxing Day thriller at stadiummk.
Two goals from Saddlers forward Will Grigg helped the visitors to a surprise victory as the West Midlands club completed the double over Karl Robinson’s men, who were without injured duo Luke Chadwick and Stephen Gleeson.
Ryan Lowe had headed the Dons into the lead with his fourth goal in as many League games but Febian Brandy hammered home an equaliser moments later.
Grigg then showed good technique to curl Dean Smith’s side in front, only for Dean Bowditch to level from a Lowe pass.
Grigg then doubled his tally by tapping home Craig Westcarr’s cross to restore the away team’s lead before Jamie Paterson made sure of the points with a deflected shot late on.
The Dons twice hit the woodwork before Paterson’s late strike sealed it, Patrick Bamford and Antony both being denied by the post as the men from MK1 lost crowd on second-place.
MK Dons (4-2-3-1): Martin; Chicksen, Kouo-Doumbe (Smith 74), Kay, Lewington (c); Potter, Williams; Powell (Ismail 59), Balanta (Bamford 46), Bowditch; Lowe.
Subs: McLoughlin, Alli, MacDonald, Sekajja.
Goals: Lowe 6, Bowditch 31
Booked: Potter, Smith, Ismail
Sent off: None
Attendance: 8,700
League position: 6th
Saturday 28th December: MK Dons 2-3 Coventry City – npower League 1
MK Dons let slip a one-goal lead to lose 3-2 at home to Coventry City in their final game of 2012.
Despite the Dons putting in a much better performance than the Boxing day defeat to Walsall, Coventry City came from behind to grab all three points thanks to a brace from Stephen Elliot.
Karl Robinson’s side, which included League debutant Dele Alli, led when Daniel Powell finished off a jinking run with a fine strike but Franck Moussa superbly levelled, carrying the ball from the halfway line before lashing into the net from a tight angle.
Ryan Lowe then expertly found enough space to grab his fifth goal in as many League games to regain the lead before half-time.
But Stephen Elliot’s close-range header five minutes after the restart coupled with a tidy finish three minutes later secured a dramatic comeback victory for Coventry, who survived a late Dons onslaught.
The result moved the Sky Blues to within two points of the Dons, who suffered their third defeat in four matches.
MK Dons (4-2-3-1): Martin; Chicksen, Kay, Williams, Lewington (c); Potter, Alli (Ismail 71); Powell, Smith (Balanta 58), Bowditch; Lowe (MacDonald 78).
Subs: McLoughlin, Kouo-Doumbe, MacKenzie, Sekajja.
Goals: Powell 15, Lowe 38
Booked: Smith, Chicksen, Lewington
Sent off: None
Attendance: 13,620
League position: 7th
Elsewhere...
*MK Dons made it through to the semi finals of the Berks and Bucks Senior Cup with a 4-0 win over Aylesbury United.
An Alan Smith-led Dons side cruised to victory thanks to goals from Daniel Powell, Charlie MacDonald and a brace from youngster Giorgio Rasulo.
*Dons boss Karl Robinson was nominated for the npower League 1 Manager of the Month award for November.
The 32-year-old’s side were unbeaten throughout the month while they also claimed victories over Leyton Orient, Colchester United and high-flyers Tranmere Rovers and Sheffield United.
Robinson, though, missed out on the award which was presented to Brentford boss Uwe Rosler.
*stadiummk played host to the Aviva Premiership clash between Northampton Saints and Saracens,
The match, which drew in a crowd of 18,856, was won by Saracens 17-16 although the Saints did have a chance to steal the victory late-on but Stephen Myler’s penalty hit the bar.