Set-pieces were MK Dons’ undoing as they fell to a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Peterborough United.
Andrew Hughes turned home Marcus Maddison’s cross in the opening minutes before, against the run of play, another Maddison delivery was inadvertently headed into his own net by George Baldock with 20 minutes remaining.
Darren Potter returned to the side after overcoming a hip problem but the game came too soon for Kieran Agard, who is working his way back from a thigh injury.
Peterborough got off to the perfect start when Andrew Hughes turned home Marcus Maddison’s in-swinging cross from the left inside two minutes.
Maddison himself then tested David Martin with a long-range effort, but the Dons hit back and Nicky Maynard flicked Daniel Powell’s just past the post.
That signalled the start of a good spell of pressure from Robinson’s men, with Samir Carruthers and Potter seeing shots blocked in quick succession.
The Dons kept their foot on the pedal and Joe Walsh glanced a header just wide before George C Williams shot goalwards after a smart one-two with Carruthers – his effort deflected wide of the target.
Powell was looking dangerous on the left and he went forward with purpose on 17 minutes but, after twisting his marker inside and out, his strike hit a defender and went behind.
Five minutes later, some superb interchange between Powell, Ed Upson and Carruthers created an opening but the latter couldn’t pick out Maynard, who had made a clever run.
Maynard was put through on goal albeit at a tight angle two minutes later with a precise pass forward and, despite hesitating, he still picked out Powell, who was well denied by Mark Tyler from 15 yards.
Tyler was again called into action on 38 minutes, gathering a low drive from Maynard after the striker had cut in from the right and let fly 20 yards out.
Martin made a magnificent save at the start of the second half to keep the Dons within one goal, diving away to his right to push away Gwion Edwards’ powerful header.
Dean Bowditch and Ben Reeves were introduced 10 minutes into the second half as Robinson looked to try and bring a fresh impetus to his side.
Bowditch was almost immediately involved as his goalbound effort was deflected wide from the edge of the area before Maynard was denied by a superb tackle from Jack Baldwin.
The substitutes then combined to set up Powell who, after creating a shooting opportunity for himself, curled his effort off target.
However, just as the Dons began to look more threatening, Peterborough went 2-0 up when George Baldock inadvertently flicked on Maddison’s free-kick into his own net.
Reeves forced a save from Tyler while the Posh keeper also had to gather a Powell delivery as the Dons looked for a way back into the game but they couldn’t and went away empty handed.
Starting XI: Martin; Baldock, Walsh, Downing, Lewington (c); Potter, Upson (Reeves 56); GC Williams (Bowditch 56), Carruthers, Powell; Maynard (Tshimanga 78)
Unused subs: Nicholls, Wootton, GB Williams, Rasulo
Bookings: Walsh, Downing, Lewington
Attendance: 10,261
Darren Potter returned to the side after overcoming a hip problem but the game came too soon for Kieran Agard, who is working his way back from a thigh injury.
Peterborough got off to the perfect start when Andrew Hughes turned home Marcus Maddison’s in-swinging cross from the left inside two minutes.
Maddison himself then tested David Martin with a long-range effort, but the Dons hit back and Nicky Maynard flicked Daniel Powell’s just past the post.
That signalled the start of a good spell of pressure from Robinson’s men, with Samir Carruthers and Potter seeing shots blocked in quick succession.
The Dons kept their foot on the pedal and Joe Walsh glanced a header just wide before George C Williams shot goalwards after a smart one-two with Carruthers – his effort deflected wide of the target.
Powell was looking dangerous on the left and he went forward with purpose on 17 minutes but, after twisting his marker inside and out, his strike hit a defender and went behind.
Five minutes later, some superb interchange between Powell, Ed Upson and Carruthers created an opening but the latter couldn’t pick out Maynard, who had made a clever run.
Maynard was put through on goal albeit at a tight angle two minutes later with a precise pass forward and, despite hesitating, he still picked out Powell, who was well denied by Mark Tyler from 15 yards.
Tyler was again called into action on 38 minutes, gathering a low drive from Maynard after the striker had cut in from the right and let fly 20 yards out.
Martin made a magnificent save at the start of the second half to keep the Dons within one goal, diving away to his right to push away Gwion Edwards’ powerful header.
Dean Bowditch and Ben Reeves were introduced 10 minutes into the second half as Robinson looked to try and bring a fresh impetus to his side.
Bowditch was almost immediately involved as his goalbound effort was deflected wide from the edge of the area before Maynard was denied by a superb tackle from Jack Baldwin.
The substitutes then combined to set up Powell who, after creating a shooting opportunity for himself, curled his effort off target.
However, just as the Dons began to look more threatening, Peterborough went 2-0 up when George Baldock inadvertently flicked on Maddison’s free-kick into his own net.
Reeves forced a save from Tyler while the Posh keeper also had to gather a Powell delivery as the Dons looked for a way back into the game but they couldn’t and went away empty handed.
Starting XI: Martin; Baldock, Walsh, Downing, Lewington (c); Potter, Upson (Reeves 56); GC Williams (Bowditch 56), Carruthers, Powell; Maynard (Tshimanga 78)
Unused subs: Nicholls, Wootton, GB Williams, Rasulo
Bookings: Walsh, Downing, Lewington
Attendance: 10,261
