Milton Keynes Dons

Karl Robinson’s side, courtesy of goals from Shaun Williams and Ben Reeves, led the Millers 2-0 heading into the final third of the match but two goals in as many minutes from the visitors set up a nervy finish.

However, with just 90 seconds remaining in normal time, Chelsea loanee Patrick Bamford swept home his 12th goal of the season to give the Dons their first victory in four and pull them back to within a point of the play-offs.

The Dons made a bright start as they went in search of an elusive win and they were handed the perfect opportunity to take the lead just before half-time when Stephen Gleeson was tripped by Michael O’Connor as he looked to turn the Rotherham’s midfielder deep inside the box.

Referee Robert Madley immediately awarded the Dons a penalty for the foul and dismissed Rotherham’s number 10 for denying a goal-scoring opportunity before Irishman Williams confidently tucked away the spot-kick.

Soon after the re-start, the Dons doubled their advantage through Reeves, who was in the right place in the right time to tap home after ‘keeper Scott Shearer could only parry Daniel Powell’s fizzing cross from the right.

Reeves then had the chance to add a third but he hurriedly poked a shot wide when one-on-one with Shearer and that miss proved all-the-more costly when, in the space of just two minutes, Rotherham somehow pulled themselves level.

First, Lee Frecklington latched onto a deep cross to guide home at the far post before a high ball into the box from Shearer was headed over Ian McLoughlin and into an empty net by Dons defender Tom Flanagan.

However, with the in-form Bamford in their side the Dons always had a chance of snatching maximum points and in the 88th minute the talented youngster helped them to do just that.

After McLeod did excellently to control a chipped ball forward, Bamford turned on a sixpence and fired an unstoppable strike beyond Shearer and into the top right-hand corner to extend his record of scoring in every home game and claim all three points for his side. 

MK Dons (4-2-3-1): Martin (McLoughlin 46); Otsemobor (Baldock 81), Flanagan, Williams, Lewington (c); Potter, Gleeson; Powell, Reeves (McLeod 81), Banton; Bamford.

Subs: Hodson, Smith, Rasulo, Carruthers.

Goals: Williams 45, Reeves 65, Bamford 88.

Booked: Potter, Williams

Sent off: None

Rotherham United: Shearer, Brindley, Skarz, Arnason, Frecklington, Revell (Eaves 46), O'Connor, Milsom, Pringle, Morgan (c), Agard.

Subs: Collin (GK), Mills, Bradley, Tubbs, Nardiello, Tidser.

Goals: Frecklington 73, Flanagan O.G. 75

Booked: O’Connor, Brindley, Frecklington

Sent off: O’Connor 45

Attendance: 11,564