Milton Keynes Dons

Stephen Gleeson’s equaliser earned MK Dons a point away at Coventry City, despite a dominant display from the visitors who arguably deserved victory.

The Sky Blues, who were struggling at the foot of the table coming into the game, started brightly with both Carl Baker and David McGoldrick forcing Dons keeper David Martin into early saves before the defender Richard Wood headed the hosts ahead from Gary McSheffrey’s corner.

The Dons, though, equalised just ten minutes later when Gleeson’s deflected effort from 25 yards wrong-footed Joe Murphy to send the sides in at the break all-square.

In the second half, Dons trio Charlie MacDonald, Daniel Powell and Luke Chadwick all wasted gilt-edged chances to give the Dons a worthy victory but Coventry were able to hold on to earn a vital point in their bid to move away from the relegation places.

Martin; Otsemobor, Kay, Williams, Lewington (c); Potter, Gleeson; Powell (Lowe 90), Chadwick (O’Shea), Bowditch; MacDonald (Smith 81).MK Dons (4-2-3-1):

McLoughlin, Kouo-Doumbe, Chicksen, Allan.Subs not used:

Gleeson 42Goals:

OtsemoborBooked:

NoneSent off:

9,948 (697 away)Attendance:

5thLeague position:

MK Dons fought back from two goals down to perverse their unbeaten home record in League 1 with a 2-2 draw against Portsmouth.

Pompey could have gone ahead inside two minutes when Dons striker Izale McLeod was tripped up by keeper David Martin in the penalty area but Brian Howard’s spot-kick hit the post.

The visitors, though, took the lead two minutes later when McLeod slotted past Martin from 12 yards before defender Gabor Gyepes headed home a second from Howard’s cross.

Portsmouth defender Adam Webster then turned a harmless cross into his own net just before the break to reduce the deficit, with Potter eventually bundling home a 72nd minute equaliser after Dean Lewington’s shot had hit the post.

The Dons did push for a third late on but the Portsmouth defence stood firm as Robinson’s side were held to their second draw in five days.

Martin; Otsemobor (Smith 33), Kay, Williams, Lewington (c); Potter, Gleeson; Powell, Chadwick, Bowditch; MacDonald (Allan 69).MK Dons (4-2-3-1):

McLoughlin, Kouo-Doumbe, Chicksen, O’Shea.Subs not used:

Webster o.g 40, Potter 72Goals:

Kay, Allan, SmithBooked:

NoneSent off:

10,409Attendance:

5thLeague position:

MK Dons and Preston North End shared a point at Deepdale, although Karl Robinson’s side did have a decent penalty appeal turned down late on.

The Dons saw Alan Smith force Stuckmann into a fine save early on before Preston striker Stuart Beavon had his header turned onto the post by Darren Potter.

Beavon then went close with a fierce strike before MacDonald appeared to have been brought down by Stuckmann when one-on-one late on.

Although replays show the Dons may have had a case for a penalty, referee Craig Pawson waved away the visitors protests meaning Karl Robinson’s side had to make do with a third successive League draw.

Martin; Otsemobor, Kouo-Doumbe, Williams, Lewington (c); Potter, Gleeson; Bowditch, Allan (MacDonald 64), Chadwick; Smith (Lowe 64).MK Dons (4-2-3-1):

McLoughlin, Chicksen, O’Shea.Subs not used:

NoneGoals:

ChadwickBooked:

NoneSent off:

8,327Attendance:

7thLeague position:

.mkstadiumMK Dons suffered their first home League defeat of the season after they were beaten 1-0 by Stevenage at

The Dons, who could have jumped above second-placed Boro with a victory, fell behind inside half an hour when Lucas Atkins collected Luke Freeman’s pass and fired past David Martin from 25 yards.

Dean Lewington then had a header saved by Steve Arnold as the hosts went in search of an equaliser, while loanee Scott Allan also had an effort turned away by the Boro keeper.

Akins went close to doubling his tally only for his shot to be cleared off the line by Luke Chadwick before Darren Potter found himself in the right place to deny Marcus Haber.

The Dons never really looked like preserving their unbeaten record late on and subsequently they increased their winless run to four matches.

Martin; Otsemobor (Chicksen 62), Kouo-Doumbe, Williams, Lewington (c); Potter, Gleeson; Chadwick (MacDonald 62), Allan, O’Shea; Smith (Lowe 62).MK Dons (4-2-3-1):

McLoughlin, Kay.Subs not used:

NoneGoals:

ChicksenBooked:

NoneSent off:

9.190 (1,019 away)Attendance:

8thLeague position:

MK Dons winless run continued after they were beaten 2-0 by Crawley Town at Broadfield Stadium.

A brace from Billy Clarke secured the points for the League 1 newcomers while Karl Robinson’s side slipped into 10th with their second straight defeat.

The hosts opened the scoring on 21 minutes when Gary Alexander flicked Nicky Adams’ corner on to Clarke, who fired home.

The forward then extended the Red Devils’ advantage with a minute left on the clock by turning in Mark Connolly’s cross.

The Dons were left to rue missed chances in the end, after former Red Charlie MacDonald failed to finish two simple chances in the first half with Ryan Lowe doing much the same in the second half. 

Martin; Otsemobor, Kouo-Doumbe, Williams, Lewington (c); Powell, Chadwick (Smith 74), Balanta (Chicksen 64); MacDonald (Lowe 46).MK Dons (4-2-3-1):

McLoughlin, Gleeson, Allan, O’Shea.Subs not used:

NoneGoals:

WilliamsBooked:

NoneSent off:

2,853 (249 away)Attendance:

10thLeague position:

MK Dons returned to winning ways in emphatic style as they brushed aside struggling Scunthorpe United 3-0.

Two goals from Luke Chadwick and a third from Alan Smith put an end to the Dons’ run of six games without a win as they ended a disappointing month on a high note.

Chadwick, who hadn’t scored since the 2-1 Capital One Cup win over Blackburn Rovers back in August, capitalised on Sam Slocombe’s error early on to give the Dons their first goal in four games, before the same man curled in a second from the edge of the area.

Mark Duffy and Josh Walker then both forced decent saves out of David Martin before Alan Smith forced home a third to put the game beyond any doubt with his first of the campaign.

The Dons could have had a fourth late on after David Mirfin felled Angelo Balanta in the penalty area but Chadwick failed to net his first hat-trick for the Club with the resulting spot-kick.

Martin; Otsemobor, Kay, Williams, Lewington (c); Potter, Gleeson, Powell (Chicksen 37), Chadwick (O’Shea 84), Balanta; Smith (Lowe 75)MK Dons (4-2-3-1):

McLoughlin, MacDonald, Alli.Subs not used:

Chadwick 17’, 30’, Smith 60’Goals:

Kay, SmithBooked:

NoneSent off:

2,737 (164 away)Attendance:

8th League position:

*MK Dons completed the one-month loan signing of QPR winger Angelo Balanta prior to the Crawley Town game.

Balanta had previously spent two spells on loan with the Club and agreed to a third switch in order to help Karl Robinson’s injury-plagued side through a busy stretch of games.

Also, Dons youngsters Jordan Ivey-Ward and Awadh Ahmed both joined Blue Square South side Histon on loan until the end of December.

*Jimmy Bullard announced his retirement from football with immediate effect following a brief spell on the sidelines in October.

The charismatic midfielder, who ruptured the cruciate ligaments in his knee twice in three years earlier in his career, made the decision after picking up an injury away at Northampton Town.

*Defender Gary MacKenzie underwent successful surgery on a troublesome hip problem in mid-October.

The Scottish defender was subsequently ruled out until the New Year.

were named as a potential host city and venue for Rugby World Cup 2015.mkstadium*Outside of football, Milton Keynes and

The City and MK1 were listed amongst 17 other venues which included Wembley Stadium, Olympic Stadium, Twickenham Stadium, Millennium Stadium, Old Trafford and St James’ Park.