The latest installment of our season rewind focuses on a frustrating February, a month where the Dons failed to pick up a single victory.
Saturday 2nd February: MK Dons 0-3 AFC Bournemouth – npower League 1
MK Dons suffered their fourth League defeat in six games after a 3-0 loss at home to in-form AFC Bournemouth.
Although the Dons started brightly, the visitors took the lead when Lewis Grabban intercepted Jon Otsemobor's weak back-pass and squeeze home from a tight angle.
Things then got worse for the Dons as striker Ryan Lowe was sent off for a reckless lunge on Tommy Elphick after the pair had earlier confronted each other.
Marc Pugh's rebound then made it 2-0 before Harry Arter's 25-yard drive sent the Dons down into 11th place in League 1.
MK Dons (4-2-3-1): Martin; Otsemobor, Kouo-Doumbe (Smith 63), Williams, Lewington (c); Potter, Lines (Ismail 79); Bowditch, Harley; Chicksen (McLeod 46); Lowe.
Subs not used: Flanagan, Baldock, Alli.
Goals: None
Booked: None
Sent off: Lowe 44
Attendance: 9,233
League position: 11th
Saturday 9th February: Oldham Athletic 3-1 MK Dons – npower League 1
MK Dons suffered their third straight defeat after they were beaten 3-1 by manager-less Oldham Athletic at Boundary Park.
On-loan striker Lee Barnard opened the scoring for the hosts in the 22nd minute before Daniel Powell levelled things up after drilling home Jon Otsemobor’s through-ball.
An unmarked Jean Yves-Moto then headed Jose Baxter’s free-kick to deservedly restore the Latics’ lead going into the break.
Oldham later wrapped up victory when Jordan Obita’s cross wasn’t cleared and Chris Iwelumo smashed in from close range.
MK Dons (4-2-3-1): Martin; Otsemobor, MacKenzie, Williams, Lewington (c); Potter, Lines (McLeod 55); Powell, Harley (Chadwick 46), Bowditch; Smith (Chicksen 67).
Subs not used: Kouo-Doumbe, Flanagan, Baldock.
Goals: Powell 39
Booked: None
Sent off: None
Attendance: 4,094 (185 away)
League position: 12th
Tuesday 12th February: Doncaster Rovers 0-0 MK Dons – npower League 1
MK Dons stopped the rot with a battling 0-0 draw away at promotion favourites Doncaster Rovers.
Karl Robinson’s side dominated most of the game at Keepmoat Stadium and arguably deserved all three points as they put an end to their losing streak.
The Dons started well with Luke Chadwick shooting wide before Izale McLeod fired just off target after Chadwick's initial effort was saved.
Doncaster, who had lost their last two games, should have then gone ahead but Martin Woods shot over the bar from 15 yards.
The visitors did have a late chance to win it when McLeod found Adam Chicksen after bursting into the Doncaster penalty area, but the substitute’s 18-yard shot was well blocked.
MK Dons (4-2-3-1): Martin; Otsemobor, MacKenzie, Williams, Lewington (c); Potter, Harley; Powell, Chadwick (Chicksen 73), Bowditch; McLeod.
Subs not used: Kouo-Doumbe, Smith, Flanagan, Baldock, Lines.
Goals: None
Booked: MacKenzie
Sent off: None
Attendance: 6,423 (180 away)
League position: 12th
Saturday 16th February: MK Dons 1-3 Barnsley – FA Cup with Budweiser Round 5
MK Dons bowed out of the FA Cup with Budweiser at the fifth round stage after they lost 3-1 to Championship outfit Barnsley.
Chris Dagnall scored twice for the Tykes as they marched into the FA Cup quarter-finals at the expense of Karl Robinson’s League 1 Dons.
The experienced Dagnall fired the Tykes into an early lead after he latched onto Jacob Mellis's pass and fired an angled shot across Martin in the third minute.
The Championship strugglers then doubled the lead through Marlon Harewood, an FA Cup runner-up in 2006 with West Ham, who side-footed home Scott Wiseman’s 19th minute cut-back.
The tie was held up for seven minutes early in the second half following a clash of heads between Adam Chicksen and Kelvin Etuhu, a collision which left the latter requiring medical attention before being taken to hospital.
The stoppage clearly disrupted the visitors as, soon after, winger Dean Bowditch reduced the deficit with a cool finish when one-on-one with Barnsley ‘keeper Luke Steele.
Steele then expertly tipped Alan Smith’s header over the bar from close range before Dagnall ended all hopes of a comeback after rounding keeper David Martin.
The Dons’ disappointing afternoon was only made worse minutes from the end when Smith was shown a red card for leading with his arm when colliding with Rory Delap.
MK Dons (4-2-3-1): Martin; Otsemobor, MacKenzie, Williams, Lewington (c); Potter, Harley (Chicksen 46); Powell, Chadwick, Bowditch (Lines 67); Smith.
Subs not used: Kouo-Doumbe, Flanagan, Alli, Galloway, Rasulo.
Goals: Bowditch 61
Booked: Otsemobor, Williams, Chadwick
Sent off: Smith 90
Attendance: 14,475
League position: N/A
Saturday 23rd February: Carlisle United 1-1 MK Dons – npower League 1
MK Dons’ winless run in League 1 continued following a frustrating 1-1 draw at Carlisle United.
Forward Mark Beck came off the bench to score a late equaliser for the Cumbrians as the Dons failed to win for the sixth consecutive League game.
The Dons had gone ahead nine minutes before the break when defender Adam Chicksen cut inside to fire past keeper Mark Gillespie for his first League goal.
Dons keeper David Martin then had to be replaced shortly after with Ian McLoughlin coming on in his place.
The young Irish Under-21 international looked solid throughout the game but could do little to prevent Carlisle’s leveller which came after Beck forced in Dave Symington’s left-wing corner.
MK Dons (4-2-3-1): Martin (McLoughlin 39); Chicksen, MacKenzie (Kouo-Doumbe 77), Kay, Lewington (c); Potter, Lines; Chadwick, Williams, Harley (Powell 64); Lowe.
Subs not used: Otsemobor, McLeod, Baldock, Rasulo.
Goals: Chicksen 36
Booked: Potter
Sent off: None
Attendance: 4,283 (179 away)
League position: 14th
Tuesday 26th February: Portsmouth 1 -1 MK Dons – npower League 1
Shaun Williams spared the Dons’ blushes with a superb equaliser in a 1-1 draw away at bottom-of-the-table Portsmouth.
Pompey had gone ahead early in the first half when David Connolly glanced Jed Wallace’s free-kick into the top corner but Williams soon levelled things up in spectacular fashion.
The 27-year-old Irishman, playing in his more natural midfield position, fired in an unstoppable volley from the edge of the area after receiving Daniel Powell’s low pass.
Dons forward Izale McLeod did have a chance to win it for the visitors late on but the former Portsmouth man somehow failed to connect with Powell’s looping cross.
MK Dons (4-2-3-1): McLoughlin; Chicksen, Kay, MacKenzie, Lewington (c); Potter, Williams (Otsemobor 65); Powell, Chadwick, Harley (Lines 57); McLeod (Lowe 57).
Subs not used: Kouo-Doumbe, Flanagan, Baldock, Rasulo.
Goals: Williams 27
Booked: Potter
Sent off: None
Attendance: 9.815 (267 away)
13thLeague position:
