The next part of mkdons.com’s season rewind takes you back to November, a month where the Dons enjoyed their best run of form.
Friday 2nd November: Cambridge City 0-0 MK Dons – FA Cup with Budweiser Round 1
MK Dons were held to a goalless draw by non-League Cambridge City in the opening round of the FA Cup with Budweiser.
Karl Robinson’s side showed their dominance throughout but failed to break the Evo-Stik League Southern Premier Division side down as the Lilywhites held on for a famous draw, securing a first-round replay at stadiummk.
Ryan Lowe saw a first half header cleared off the line for the Dons while City striker Craig Hammond had two efforts saved by David Martin.
Stephen Gleeson then rattled the post with a header before captain for evening Luke Chadwick struck the woodwork with a fierce drive.
Lowe did have a chance to claim victory late-on but his effort was denied by Zac Barrett’s sublime fingertip save as the team ranked 102 League places below the Dons held on for arguably the greatest result in their 104 year history.
MK Dons (4-2-3-1): Martin; Otsemobor, Kay, Williams, Lewington (c); Potter, Gleeson; O’Shea (Alli 64), Chadwick (c) (Smith 86), Chicksen; Lowe.
Subs not used: McLoughlin, Kouo-Doumbe, Galloway, Hickford, Rasulo.
Goals: None
Booked: None
Sent off: None
Attendance: 1,564
League position: N/A
Wednesday 7th November: MK Dons 1-0 Leyton Orient
Ryan Lowe scored the only goal of the game as MK Dons beat Leyton Orient to secure a second successive League victory.
The Dons, who came into the game off the back of their disappointing goalless draw with non-League Cambridge City, dominated the first half and saw efforts from Luke Chadwick and Dean Bowditch saved by keeper Ryan Allsopp.
Lowe then had a fierce shot pushed over before he grabbed his second of the season by turning Bowditch’s low cross in from close range.
The visitors did have chances to equalise in the second half but David Mooney failed to beat Martin on three occasions while Kevin Lisbie was booked for punching Lee Cook’s cross into the net in injury time.
The Dons, then, were able to hold on to extend their unbeaten run in all competitions to three games.
MK Dons (4-2-3-1): Martin; Otsemobor, Kay (Kouo-Doumbe 83), Williams, Lewington (c); Potter, Gleeson; Bowditch (Chicksen 75), Chadwick, Balanta; Lowe (MacDonald 81).
Subs not used: McLoughlin, Smith, Alli, Sekajja.
Goals: Lowe 41
Booked: Otsemobor, Gleeson
Sent off: None
Attendance: 6,985
League position: 8th
Saturday 10th November: MK Dons 1-0 Sheffield United – npower League 1
Shaun Williams scored a last-minute penalty for MK Dons as they made it three League wins on the spin.
The Blades hadn’t lost prior to the clash at stadiummk while the Dons were looking to continue their upturn in form and close the gap on the top six.
In an even first half, Nick Blackman had the best chance for United with a right-footed effort that was saved well by Dons keeper David Martin while Ryan Lowe should have done better for the hosts from Angelo Balanta's cross.
Blades goalkeeper George Long saved well from Lowe after the interval before Williams scored the winner from the spot after David McAllister brought down Angelo Balanta with seconds remaining on the clock.
MK Dons (4-2-3-1): Martin; Otsemobor, Kay, Williams, Lewington (c); Potter, Gleeson; Bowditch Chadwick, Balanta (Kouo-Doumbe 90); Lowe (Smith 58).
Subs not used: McLoughlin, Chicksen, O’Shea, MacDonald, Sekajja.
Goals: Williams 90
Booked: Chadwick
Sent off: None
Attendance: 9,835 (1,854 away)
League position: 7th
Tuesday 13th November: MK Dons 6-1 Cambridge City – FA Cup Round 1 Replay
MK Dons set up a first meeting with AFC Wimbledon after a 6-1 win over Cambridge City.
Shaun Williams put the hosts ahead with a stunning long-range effort before Dean Bowditch added a second from a tight angle.
Jay O’Shea made it three-nil to the Dons just before half-time and, although Dave Theobald reduced the deficit momentarily with a header, Williams restored the advantage with a penalty in the 74th minute.
16-year-old Dele Alli, who made his debut for the Club as a substitute in the original tie, sent the crowd into raptures with a sublime 30-yard drive that made it 5-1 before Adam Chicksen rounded off the rout late on.
The 6-1 thumping secured the eagerly anticipated clash with AFC Wimbledon in Round 2 - in a game that had been 10 years in the making.
MK Dons (4-2-3-1): Martin; Kouo-Doumbe, Kay, Williams, Lewington (c); Alli (Galloway 79), Gleeson; Bowditch (Chicksen 61), MacDonald, O’Shea; Lowe (Rasulo 67).
Subs not used: McLoughlin, Smith, Spence
Goals: Williams 12, 74 (pen), O’Shea 43, Bowditch 45+2, Alli 75, Chicksen 77.
Booked: None
Sent off: None
Attendance: 4,129 (579 away)
League position: N/A
Friday 16th November: Tranmere Rovers 0-1 MK Dons – npower League 1
MK Dons leapt five places to second after Stephen Gleeson’s late goal at Tranmere Rovers secured their fourth successive League win.
It was no more than they deserved after dominating possession for much of the game against the League One leaders.
Ryan Lowe shot wide early on after a slip by defender Ash Taylor before James Wallace forced David Martin into his only meaningful save of the game on the hour in front of a bumper crowd of 10,587.
Late on Dean Lewington thought he’d put the visitors ahead with a header from Bowditch’s cross but his effort was denied by a perfectly placed Wallace on the line.
Then, with the game heading towards a stalemate, Rovers keeper Owain Fon Williams failed to hold Bowditch’s cross and Gleeson was able to stab home his second of the season to extend the Dons’ impressive run.
MK Dons (4-2-3-1): Martin; Otsemobor, Kay, Williams, Lewington (c); Potter, Gleeson, Bowditch, Chadwick (Kouo-Doumbe 89), Balanta (Powell 64); Lowe (Smith 58).
Subs not used: McLoughlin, Chicksen, O’Shea, Sekajja.
Goals: Gleeson 87
Booked: Smith
Sent off: None
Attendance: 10,587
League position: 2nd
Tuesday 20th November: Shrewsbury Town 2-2 MK Dons
Dean Bowditch scored a 92nd minute equaliser to make it seven games without defeat for MK Dons.
Bowditch’s stunning volley seconds from time helped preserve Karl Robinson’s side unbeaten record as they snatched a 2-2 draw at Shrewsbury Town.
After creating the majority of first half chances, Town were stung by Angelo Balanta’s opener on the stroke of half-time. The winger, who had yet to score for the Dons since joining on loan for a third time back in September, slotted in from 12 yards to give the visitors the advantage at the break.
But the hosts equalised soon after the break through Luke Rodgers, following some unselfish play from fellow striker Marvin Morgan, before Mark Wright curled home mid-way seven minutes later to put Shrewsbury ahead against his former side.
However it was the Dons who would have the last word when Bowditch found the bottom corner from the edge of the area in injury time.
MK Dons (4-2-3-1): Martin; Otsemobor, Kay, Williams, Lewington (c) (Chicksen 58); Potter, Gleeson; Bowditch, Chadwick (MacDonald 74), Balanta (Powell 58); Smith.
Subs not used: McLoughlin, Kouo-Doumbe, Lowe, Sekajja.
Goals: Balanta 45, Bowditch 90+2
Booked: Smith, MacDonald
Sent off: None
Attendance: 4,747 (183 away)
League position: 3rd
Saturday 24th November: MK Dons 5-1 Colchester United
A Luke Chadwick brace helped MK Dons thrash 10-man Colchester United and climb into second place in League 1.
Chadwick latched onto Chelsea loanee Patrick Bamford’s through-ball for the opener before Shaun Williams doubled the lead from the penalty spot after Tom Eastman had fouled Bamford.
Jon Otsemobor headed in a third from a corner after the break with Ian Henderson netting a consolation for the visitors soon after.
Chadwick cooly slotted home his second and the Dons’ fourth to add further punishment to the U’s, who had Graham Massey sent off for a tackle on Adam Chicksen in the 66th minuite.
Ryan Lowe then completed the scoring with a fantastic curling shot from 22 yards to round off an unbeaten November in style.
MK Dons (4-2-3-1): Martin; Otsemobor, Kay, Williams, Chicksen; Potter, Gleeson; Bowditch (Sekajja 84), Chadwick (Ismail 77), Balanta; Bamford (Lowe 69).
Subs not used: McLoughlin, Kouo-Doumbe, Galloway, MacDonald.
Goals: Chadwick 28, 64, Williams (pen) 37, Otsemobor 61, Lowe 82.
Booked: None
Sent off: None
Attendance: 7,443
League position: 2nd
Elsewhere...
*MK Dons swooped to sign strikers Ibra Sekajja and Patrick Bamford and winger Zeli Ismail on loan during November.
Sekajja, a striker from Crystal Palace, only featured once for the Dons during his two-month stay at stadiummk while both Bamford and Ismail enjoyed more fruitful spells.
Wolves youngster Ismail made nine appearances for Karl Robinson’s side after signing on loan deadline day while Bamford scored 4 goals in 14 games, although all but two of them appearances came during a later loan spell with the Club.
Also, Angelo Balanta, who re-joined the Dons on loan in October, extended his stay at MK1 until January.
*Winger Jay O’Shea joined League 2 side Chesterfield on loan until January after failing to establish himself in the Dons’ starting XI.
The Irishman had only made eight starts for the Dons in 2012/13 and joined the Spireites in order to get more games under his belt although the switch was later made permanent in January after a successful two-month stay in Derbyshire.
*Defender Tom Flanagan earned a call-up to the Northern Ireland Under-21 squad for the first time following his impressive performances on loan at League 2 leaders Gillingham.
Flanagan joined the Gills early in August and his stand-out showings were rewarded with a start in the friendly against England Under-21s on 11th November.
Unfortunately, upon his return to Gillingham, Tom fractured his foot in training and was later forced to return to the Dons in order to undergo surgery. The injury would subsequently keep the defender out for 12 weeks.
*Youngster Giorgio Rasulo linked up with his England Under-16s for the Victory Shield clash with Scotland which was shown live on Sky Sports.
Rasulo, 15, came on as a second half substitute for the Young Lions and put his name in lights by netting the winner late on.
