The second part of our season rewind focuses on September – a month where the Dons began to show their dominant home form in the League.
Rewind...
Saturday 1st September: MK Dons 2-0 Carlisle United – npower League 1
MK Dons kicked-off September in similar fashion to how they started August, with a 2-0 home League victory over Carlisle United.
Ryan Lowe netted his first for the Club mid-way through the second half to secure a comfortable win for Karl Robinson’s side after Luke Chadwick had put the Dons ahead with his third goal of the season.
New-signing Jimmy Bullard, who joined just hours before the Capital One Cup clash with Blackburn Rovers three days previous, watched on from the bench as Chadwick opened the scoring with a curling effort from the edge of the box after Daniel Powell’s lay-off.
The Dons, who came into the game in 10th position, then extended their lead through Lowe, who made sure of the points with a cool finish after Powell’s shot had been saved by ‘keeper Adam Collin.
Bullard then made his eagerly anticipated debut late-on as the Dons survived a late rally from the visitors to seal a third-straight home win.
MK Dons (4-2-3-1): Martin; Otsemobor, MacKenzie, Williams, Chicksen; Potter, Gleeson; Powell (O’Shea 86), Chadwick (Bullard 73), Bowditch; Lowe (MacDonald 73).
Subs not used: McLoughlin, Kay.
Goals: Chadwick 12, Lowe 65
Booked: None
Sent off: None
Attendance: 7,227 (381 away)
League position: 7th
Tuesday 4th September: Northampton Town 1-0 MK Dons - Johnstone’s Paint Trophy Round 1
MK Dons were knocked out of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy at the first time of asking, after they suffered a 1-0 defeat to local rivals Northampton Town.
Jake Robinson’s superb strike early in the first half proved to be the only difference between the two sides as the Dons crashed exited the competition they won back in 2008.
Karl Robinson’s side weren’t without chances though as both Dean Bowditch and Charlie MacDonald went close in the first half. Bowditch, who spent ten games on loan at Sixfields four years ago, shot wide while MacDonald glanced a header off target on 27 minutes.
MacDonald then drilled over a volley from just inside the area after 17-year-old Mason Spence, who was making his professional debut, had picked him out with a delightful cross before Gleeson was denied a first-half equaliser by Cobblers’ Lee Nicholls.
Despite further chances in the second half, the Dons, who were supported by over 1,000 travelling supporters, failed to break down the resilient Northampton defence as the League 2 side held on to progress through to the next round.
MK Dons (4-3-3): Martin; Spence (Ibehre 69), Kay, Williams, Chicksen; Bullard (Chadwick 51), Smith (O’Shea 69), Gleeson (c); Powell, MacDonald, Bowditch.
Subs not used: Lowe, Galloway.
Goals: None
Booked: Kay, Spence
Sent off: None
Attendance: 3,444 (1,349 away)
League position: N/A
Saturday 8th September: Walsall 1-0 MK Dons – npower League 1
Defender Dean Holden’s first-half strike condemned MK Dons to their third-straight away defeat, as they were beaten 1-0 by Walsall at Bescot Stadium.
Karl Robinson’s side came into the match without an away League victory to their name and their chances of changing that disappeared when they fell behind on 17 minutes after Holden was able to latch onto Jamie Paterson’s deep cross at the far post and guide his effort past David Martin and Luke Chadwick on the line.
Winger Dean Bowditch was then denied an equaliser by defender Ben Purkiss before the former Yeovil striker hit the post with a later effort.
Striker Alan Smith then had the chance to level in injury time, and also net his first of the season, but the experienced forward’s shot was saved well by Walsall ‘keeper David Grof.
MK Dons (4-2-3-1): Martin; Otsemobor, Kay, Williams, Lewington (c); Potter, Gleeson; Powell, Chadwick (O’Shea 68), Bowditch (Smith 75); Lowe (MacDonald 61).
Subs not used: Burns, Kouo-Doumbe, Chicksen, Ibehre.
Goals: None
Booked: Lowe, Kay, O’Shea.
Sent off: None
Attendance: 3,657
League position: 10th
Saturday 15th September: MK Dons 1-0 Yeovil Town – npower League 1
Charlie MacDonald ended his 19-game drought as the Dons returned to winning ways against Yeovil Town.
The 31-year-old hadn’t netted for the Club since the 4-1 victory over Leyton Orient in March 2012, but showed great confidence to race clear and slot the ball home 15 minutes from time to maintain Dons’ 100 percent home record.
Karl Robinson’s side dominated the first half and they almost took the lead on the half hour through Luke Chadwick, but the midfielder’s curling shot was superbly saved by Marek Stech.
The visiting Glovers, who upped their game after the break, had a second-half header from Luke Ayling cleared off the line by Dean Lewington before MacDonald’s late goal sealed a fourth-straight home win for the Dons.
The eccentric Jimmy Bullard then made an appearance late-on, in what would turn out to be his final game before retiring from professional football.
MK Dons (4-2-3-1): Martin; Otsemobor, MacKenzie (Kay 12), Williams, Lewington (c); Potter, Gleeson; Powell, Chadwick, Bowditch (Bullard 83); Lowe (MacDonald 67).
Subs not used: McLoughlin, Chicksen, Smith, O’Shea.
Goals: MacDonald 75’
Booked: Williams
Sent off: None
Attendance: 7,235 (322 away)
League position: 8th
Tuesday 18th September: MK Dons 1-1 Notts County – npower League 1
MK Dons came from behind to maintain their unbeaten home record with a 1-1 draw against Notts County.
Jay O’Shea’s 68th minute goal cancelled out Neal Bishop’s superb first-half strike to earn the Dons a share of spoils in an engrossing encounter at stadiummk.
The Dons started brightly and had a Luke Chadwick effort well saved by Magpies stopper Bartosz Bialkowski.
The visitors then started to take control, with both Alan Judge and Yoann Arquin going close before Bishop opened the scoring with a fantastic dipping shot – the first goal the Dons had conceded at home in the League all year.
Karl Robinson’s side upped the tempo in the second half and they hit back just after the hour-mark through O’Shea, who cut inside from the left before curling a glorious right-footed effort into the far corner.
Despite a dominant half an hour from the hosts, County hung on to set a new club record of 11 away games without defeat while the Dons moved into seventh.
MK Dons (4-2-3-1): Martin; Otsemobor, MacKenzie, Kay (O’Shea 54), Lewington (c); Potter, Gleeson; Powell, Williams, Chadwick (Lowe 64); MacDonald (Smith 81).
Subs not used: McLoughlin, Bowditch, Chicksen, Bullard.
Goals: O’Shea 68’
Booked: Lewington, Potter
Sent off: None
Attendance: 7,121 (650 away)
League position: 7th
Saturday 22nd September: Bury 1-4 MK Dons – npower League 1
Dean Bowditch netted his first hat-trick in a Dons shirt to hand Karl Robinson’s side their first away League victory of the season at winless Bury.
The men from MK1, who had yet to win away from home coming into the match, comfortable saw off the Shakers 4-1 – a result which would later turn out to be their biggest of the season away from stadiummk.
Bowditch opened the scoring in the first-half by converting Luke Chadwick’s cross into the bottom corner before the winger doubled his tally with a placed effort after both Jay O’Shea and Chadwick had been denied by ‘keeper Joe Skarz.
The former Ipswich trainee then claimed the hat-trick ball by cooly finishing from close range after the Bury defence failed to react to Stephen Gleeson’s quick free-kick.
Shakers striker Lenell John-Lewis did reduce the deficit nine minutes from the end, lobbing an on-rushing David Martin from 25-yards, before Chadwick restored the advantage in the injury time following Jay O’Shea’s cut-back.
MK Dons (4-2-3-1): Martin; Otsemobor (Kouo-Doumbe 45), Kay, Williams, Lewington (c); Potter, Gleeson; Bowditch (Powell 71), Chadwick, O’Shea; MacDonald (Lowe 41).
Subs not used: McLoughlin, Smith, Chicksen.
Goals: Bowditch 33’, 55’, 67’, Chadwick 90’
Booked: Chadwick
Sent off: None
Attendance: 2,321 (179 away)
League position: 4th
Tuesday 25th September: MK Dons 0-2 Sunderland – Capital One Cup Round 3
Second-half goals from Sunderland’s Craig Gardner and James McClean knocked MK Dons out of the Capital One Cup at the third-round stage.
Martin O’Neill’s Premier League outfit had Lee Cattermole sent off mid-way through the first half for a reckless challenge on Adam Chicksen before Gardner fired them ahead with a superb free-kick past Ian McLoughlin, who was deputising for an ill David Martin.
Dons substitutes Ryan Lowe and Charlie MacDonald had chances to equalise for the hosts but both fired wide as the Karl Robinson’s side’s grip on a fourth round place slowly slipped away.
The victory was eventually wrapped up when McClean produced a fine individual effort which beat McLoughlin low down at his near post.
Man of the match Chicksen had a chance to grab a consolation goal late on for the Dons but his effort was deflected wide as the men from MK1 bowed out of their second Cup competition.
MK Dons (4-2-3-1): McLoughlin; Chicksen, Kay Williams, Lewington (c); Potter, Gleeson, Powell (O’Shea 77), Chadwick (Lowe 62), Bowditch; Smith (MacDonald 62).
Subs not used: Burns, Kouo-Doumbe, Spence, Alli.
Goals: None
Booked: Kay
Sent off: None
Attendance: 10,489
League position: N/A
Saturday 29th September: MK Dons 1-0 Crewe Alexandra – npower League 1
MK Dons moved up into third place in League 1 with a narrow 1-0 victory over Crewe Alexandra.
The hosts controlled the opening exchanges and they deservedly took the lead through Charlie MacDonald, who slotted home Dean Bowditch’s low cross at the front post.
Bowditch then went close to making it 2-0 with a 25-yard drive but saw it expertly tipped wide by Crewe keeper Alan Martin.
The Railwaymen did have chances to equalise after the break but striker Ajay Leitch-Smith failed to convert two golden one-on-one opportunities.
MK Dons (4-2-3-1): Martin; Chicksen, Kay, Williams, Lewington (c); Potter, Gleeson; Bowditch, Chadwick (Allan 71), O’Shea (Powell 61); MacDonald (Lowe 83).
Subs not used: McLoughlin, Otsemobor, Kouo-Doumbe, Smith.
Goals: MacDonald 8
Booked: None
Sent off: None
Attendance: 11,037 (768 away)
League position: 3rd
Elsewhere...
*The Dons swooped to sign West Bromwich Albion midfielder Scott Allan on loan hours before the home match against Crewe Alexandra.
20-year-old Allan, who had enjoyed a stint on loan at Portsmouth in 2011/12, joined the Dons on a one-match deal.
*Striker Jabo Ibehre completed a loan switch to League 1 side Colchester United having only made a handful of appearances for the Dons prior to the move.
Ibehre linked up with the U’s on a 93-day deal at the end of September, becoming Joe Dunne’s first signing since taking over the Essex club.
*Midfielder George Baldock put pen to paper on a new two-year-deal that will keep him with the Club until June 2014.
Baldock, brother of former Dons striker Sam, was on loan at Tamworth at the time his contract was signed having joined them on a four-month deal on Deadline Day.
*Defender Gary MacKenzie impressive early-season form was rewarded with a call-up to the Scotland squad ahead of their FIFA World Cup qualifiers with Serbia and FYR Macedonia.
Although MacKenzie didn’t feature for Scotland, the 6ft 3in centre-back was able to spend some time with his national side, who went on to the draw the two games 0-0 and 1-1 respectively.
*Under-18s captain Mason Spence was another who earned himself an international selection in September, after he joined up with Wales Under-19 for their friendly with Germany.
Spence, who made his professional debut away at Northampton Town at the beginning of the month, didn’t play in the match but gained the valuable experience of being away on international duty for the first time.
*Ian McLoughlin and Republic of Ireland Under-21s suffered Euro heartache after they missed the chance to reach the UEFA Under-21 Championship play-offs following a 2-1 defeat to Hungary.
Although McLoughlin saved a penalty mid-way through the second half to prevent Hungary from extending their lead, he couldn’t help his Irish team-mates find a winner.