Despite a dominant performance at Ricoh Arena, the Dons slipped to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Coventry City.
The men from MK1 enjoyed the majority of the ball and chances but couldn’t build on Daniel Powell’s second-half goal after initially going 2-0 down before the break.
Devante Cole replaced Will Grigg up front in the only change for the Dons as they looked to pick up their third straight victory.
The Dons made an assured start and controlled the opening exchanges, with Ben Reeves seeing a shot blocked before Carl Baker, against his former club, forced a good save from Lee Burge following good work down the right.
At the other end, Ian McLoughlin brilliantly denied Dominic Samuel after the striker sprung the offside trap, but there was nothing he could do on nine minutes as Chris Stokes headed home from a right-wing corner. 1-0
Things got worse for the Dons just three minutes later when they were caught in midfield, John Fleck raced towards goal and fed Samuel, who fired low past McLoughlin. 2-0
Karl Robinson’s men responded by creating a good chance of their own after some incisive passing on the edge of the box, but Cole was denied thanks to a last-ditch challenge as he was about to shoot 12 yards out.
Cole was presented with another opportunity on 18 minutes but he couldn’t connect with Jordan Spence’s cross from six yards after Reeves had done well to recycle a corner.
Spence got in again down the right-hand side on 25 minutes although his dangerous delivery was cleared away by a Coventry defender inside the six-yard box.
The men from MK1 continued to push forward and Samir Carruthers flashed a ball across the box which just evaded his team-mates, but the Dons’ efforts since going 2-0 down weren’t to be rewarded before the break.
Robinson’s side started the second half on the front foot as they looked for a way back into game and only a last-ditch block stopped Darren Potter from reducing the arrears after the hosts had failed to deal with a corner.
From the resulting kick, Antony Kay hit the post after arriving at the back post and meeting Baker’s delivery as the Dons completely dominated the opening exchanges of the period.
Their pressure was finally rewarded on 55 minutes when Powell poked home from close range after Baker had beaten his man and cut the ball back, giving the big travelling contingent behind the goal something to cheer. 2-1
Powell came close to making it 2-2 three minutes later but, after skipping past two men, his curling effort was expertly saved by Burge from 25 yards.
Baker then saw a shot blocked and Reeves an effort deflected behind as the Dons remained camped in the Coventry half – that proved to Reeves’ last involvement as he was replaced by George Williams and Cole by Grigg in a double change.
Williams was in the thick of the action straight away, sending a shot goalwards which was deflected behind and almost turning home a teasing Baker cross from the right on 67 minutes.
Lewis Baker was introduced for his Dons debut on 69 minutes as Robinson looked for a spark to bring his side level.
It was all Dons as the clock ticked into the final 10 minutes and Williams had a low drive cleared off the line before Spence was denied as he broke into the box.
Lewis Baker and Williams both curled efforts off target from 20 yards in quick succession while Carl Baker fired over as the men from MK1 kept asking questions until the final whistle but they couldn’t find a deserved equaliser.
MK Dons: McLoughlin; Spence, Kay, McFadzean, Lewington (c); Potter, Carruthers L. Baker 69); Powell, Reeves (Williams 63), Baker; Cole (Grigg 63).
Unused subs: Burns, Hodson, Andrews, Green.
Bookings: Carruthers, McFadzean.
Goals: Powell (55).
Attendance: 9,334 (1,689 Dons fans).
Devante Cole replaced Will Grigg up front in the only change for the Dons as they looked to pick up their third straight victory.
The Dons made an assured start and controlled the opening exchanges, with Ben Reeves seeing a shot blocked before Carl Baker, against his former club, forced a good save from Lee Burge following good work down the right.
At the other end, Ian McLoughlin brilliantly denied Dominic Samuel after the striker sprung the offside trap, but there was nothing he could do on nine minutes as Chris Stokes headed home from a right-wing corner. 1-0
Things got worse for the Dons just three minutes later when they were caught in midfield, John Fleck raced towards goal and fed Samuel, who fired low past McLoughlin. 2-0
Karl Robinson’s men responded by creating a good chance of their own after some incisive passing on the edge of the box, but Cole was denied thanks to a last-ditch challenge as he was about to shoot 12 yards out.
Cole was presented with another opportunity on 18 minutes but he couldn’t connect with Jordan Spence’s cross from six yards after Reeves had done well to recycle a corner.
Spence got in again down the right-hand side on 25 minutes although his dangerous delivery was cleared away by a Coventry defender inside the six-yard box.
The men from MK1 continued to push forward and Samir Carruthers flashed a ball across the box which just evaded his team-mates, but the Dons’ efforts since going 2-0 down weren’t to be rewarded before the break.
Robinson’s side started the second half on the front foot as they looked for a way back into game and only a last-ditch block stopped Darren Potter from reducing the arrears after the hosts had failed to deal with a corner.
From the resulting kick, Antony Kay hit the post after arriving at the back post and meeting Baker’s delivery as the Dons completely dominated the opening exchanges of the period.
Their pressure was finally rewarded on 55 minutes when Powell poked home from close range after Baker had beaten his man and cut the ball back, giving the big travelling contingent behind the goal something to cheer. 2-1
Powell came close to making it 2-2 three minutes later but, after skipping past two men, his curling effort was expertly saved by Burge from 25 yards.
Baker then saw a shot blocked and Reeves an effort deflected behind as the Dons remained camped in the Coventry half – that proved to Reeves’ last involvement as he was replaced by George Williams and Cole by Grigg in a double change.
Williams was in the thick of the action straight away, sending a shot goalwards which was deflected behind and almost turning home a teasing Baker cross from the right on 67 minutes.
Lewis Baker was introduced for his Dons debut on 69 minutes as Robinson looked for a spark to bring his side level.
It was all Dons as the clock ticked into the final 10 minutes and Williams had a low drive cleared off the line before Spence was denied as he broke into the box.
Lewis Baker and Williams both curled efforts off target from 20 yards in quick succession while Carl Baker fired over as the men from MK1 kept asking questions until the final whistle but they couldn’t find a deserved equaliser.
MK Dons: McLoughlin; Spence, Kay, McFadzean, Lewington (c); Potter, Carruthers L. Baker 69); Powell, Reeves (Williams 63), Baker; Cole (Grigg 63).
Unused subs: Burns, Hodson, Andrews, Green.
Bookings: Carruthers, McFadzean.
Goals: Powell (55).
Attendance: 9,334 (1,689 Dons fans).
