MK Dons completed their pre-season schedule with a tough test against Premier League side Leicester, who ran out 2-0 winners.
The men from MK1 matched their higher division opponents for large parts of the exciting contest at stadiummk but were beaten by a deflected shot from David Nugent and a stunning James Pearson effort.
Karl Robinson’s starting XI included striker Benik Afobe, who had only joined the Club on a season-long from Arsenal a few hours prior to kick-off, and the 21-year-old had an early chance to stretch his legs on the MK1 pitch when he chased down a through-ball which Leicester keeper Ben Hamer eventually got to first and cleared.
In the fourth minute, Foxes full-back Jeff Schlupp, playing in his hometown of Milton Keynes, was presented with the opportunity to test David Martin after a bursting run down the left flank but the Dons stopper was equal to the youngster’s low effort.
Leicester striker Chris Wood then blasted a shot well wide of the target despite being allowed acres of space inside the Dons penalty area.
The Dons’ first real chance of the match came in the 10th minute courtesy of winger Danny Green, whose long-range effort flashed just wide of Hamer’s right-hand upright.
Green followed that shot up with another ambitious effort, this time from more than 40 yards out, which he drilled harmlessly over the crossbar.
Robinson’s men were arguably seeing more of the ball than their Premier League opponents but they fell behind in the 23rd minute in cruel fashion – a shot from the experienced David Nugent which took a wicked deflection and completely wrong-footed Martin in the Dons goal.
Leicester then went close to doubling their lead just five minutes later through Nugent’s fellow frontman Wood but his shot from the right-hand corner of the penalty area was well saved by a diving Martin.
Eager to find a goal their solid first-half showing deserved, the Dons went on the attack again and on the half-hour mark Lewington produced a strong save out of Hamer with a well-hit left-footed shot from 25 yards.
Dean Bowditch then drilled a dangerous looking ball across the face of goal but neither Afobe nor Alli could connect at the far post before Green bent a well-placed free-kick just wide of the right-hand upright.
As the half drew to a close, Alli hit the outside of the right post after latching onto Afobe’s through-ball before the striker had a shot of his own blocked from close range moments before the whistle.
During the break, Robinson switched Bowditch for Daniel Powell but it was a winger on the opposing team, Marc Albrighton, that had the first chance of the second half – a swerving shot which, in the end, never really looked like troubling Martin.
Nugent then wasted a glorious opportunity to increase his side’s margin with an unopposed header from Riyad Mahrez corner which he directed over the crossbar.
At the hour-mark, the Dons began to pile real pressure on their opponents and they came close to finding a leveller through Potter, whose cross from the right almost crept in at the far post – much to the surprise of Foxes keeper Hamer and probably Potter himself.
Afobe then saw a close-range shot blocked on the line by Dean Hammond after Hamer failed to hold Green’s fizzing corner.
However, just as it looked as though the Dons were close to an equaliser, Leicester increased their lead courtesy of a stunning strike from right-back James Pearson which nestled in the top corner of the net and drew applause from both sets of supporters inside stadiummk.
Further substitutions were made during the final third which took some of the sting out of the contest until Hitchcock went close with an ambitious chip which Hamer had to backtrack to claim inside his six-yard box.
The Dons then saw several long-range efforts drilled wide of the target before Hitchcock looped a weak header into the arms of Hamer with the game's final chance.
MK Dons (4-2-3-1): Martin; Hodson (Baldock 74), McFadzean (Hickford 85), Kay (Tingey 85), Lewington (Tilney 74); Potter (Trialist 68), Alli (Randall 68); Green (Rasulo 79), Reeves (Hitchcock 53), Bowditch (Powell 46); Afobe (Trialist 68).
Subs not used: McLoughlin (GK), Burns (GK), Flanagan, Summerfield.
Leicester City: Hamer; Pearson (McCourt 71), Morgan (c), Kennedy (Sesay 79), Schlupp; Mahrez (Barmby 75), King, Hammond, Albrighton; Nugent, Wood.
Subs not used: Logan (GK), Panayiotou, Cain, Blyth.
Goals: Nugent 23, Pearson 67.
Attendance: 4,332 (1,217 away)
Karl Robinson’s starting XI included striker Benik Afobe, who had only joined the Club on a season-long from Arsenal a few hours prior to kick-off, and the 21-year-old had an early chance to stretch his legs on the MK1 pitch when he chased down a through-ball which Leicester keeper Ben Hamer eventually got to first and cleared.
In the fourth minute, Foxes full-back Jeff Schlupp, playing in his hometown of Milton Keynes, was presented with the opportunity to test David Martin after a bursting run down the left flank but the Dons stopper was equal to the youngster’s low effort.
Leicester striker Chris Wood then blasted a shot well wide of the target despite being allowed acres of space inside the Dons penalty area.
The Dons’ first real chance of the match came in the 10th minute courtesy of winger Danny Green, whose long-range effort flashed just wide of Hamer’s right-hand upright.
Green followed that shot up with another ambitious effort, this time from more than 40 yards out, which he drilled harmlessly over the crossbar.
Robinson’s men were arguably seeing more of the ball than their Premier League opponents but they fell behind in the 23rd minute in cruel fashion – a shot from the experienced David Nugent which took a wicked deflection and completely wrong-footed Martin in the Dons goal.
Leicester then went close to doubling their lead just five minutes later through Nugent’s fellow frontman Wood but his shot from the right-hand corner of the penalty area was well saved by a diving Martin.
Eager to find a goal their solid first-half showing deserved, the Dons went on the attack again and on the half-hour mark Lewington produced a strong save out of Hamer with a well-hit left-footed shot from 25 yards.
Dean Bowditch then drilled a dangerous looking ball across the face of goal but neither Afobe nor Alli could connect at the far post before Green bent a well-placed free-kick just wide of the right-hand upright.
As the half drew to a close, Alli hit the outside of the right post after latching onto Afobe’s through-ball before the striker had a shot of his own blocked from close range moments before the whistle.
During the break, Robinson switched Bowditch for Daniel Powell but it was a winger on the opposing team, Marc Albrighton, that had the first chance of the second half – a swerving shot which, in the end, never really looked like troubling Martin.
Nugent then wasted a glorious opportunity to increase his side’s margin with an unopposed header from Riyad Mahrez corner which he directed over the crossbar.
At the hour-mark, the Dons began to pile real pressure on their opponents and they came close to finding a leveller through Potter, whose cross from the right almost crept in at the far post – much to the surprise of Foxes keeper Hamer and probably Potter himself.
Afobe then saw a close-range shot blocked on the line by Dean Hammond after Hamer failed to hold Green’s fizzing corner.
However, just as it looked as though the Dons were close to an equaliser, Leicester increased their lead courtesy of a stunning strike from right-back James Pearson which nestled in the top corner of the net and drew applause from both sets of supporters inside stadiummk.
Further substitutions were made during the final third which took some of the sting out of the contest until Hitchcock went close with an ambitious chip which Hamer had to backtrack to claim inside his six-yard box.
The Dons then saw several long-range efforts drilled wide of the target before Hitchcock looped a weak header into the arms of Hamer with the game's final chance.
MK Dons (4-2-3-1): Martin; Hodson (Baldock 74), McFadzean (Hickford 85), Kay (Tingey 85), Lewington (Tilney 74); Potter (Trialist 68), Alli (Randall 68); Green (Rasulo 79), Reeves (Hitchcock 53), Bowditch (Powell 46); Afobe (Trialist 68).
Subs not used: McLoughlin (GK), Burns (GK), Flanagan, Summerfield.
Leicester City: Hamer; Pearson (McCourt 71), Morgan (c), Kennedy (Sesay 79), Schlupp; Mahrez (Barmby 75), King, Hammond, Albrighton; Nugent, Wood.
Subs not used: Logan (GK), Panayiotou, Cain, Blyth.
Goals: Nugent 23, Pearson 67.
Attendance: 4,332 (1,217 away)
