Kieran Agard scored twice to earn MK Dons a point away at in-form Charlton Athletic.
The striker, introduced as a second-half substitute, scored a terrific header to cancel out Josh Magennis’ early finish before netting a 91st-minute penalty, soon after Scott Golbourne’s own goal, which ensured his side of a share of the spoils at The Valley.
Josh Magennis netted for the Addicks, who thought they had won it late on through a Scott Golbourne own goal only for Agard to cancel it out with his second of the evening.
Neilson made one change from the side which beat Fleetwood Town at Stadium MK, with striker Kieran Agard replaced by Ryan Seager up front.
Peter Pawlett, who impressed in the victory over the Cod Army, retained his place in the starting XI and 30 seconds into the game he earned the Dons a free-kick. Ed Upson delivered the ball into the area but Chuks Aneke couldn’t latch on at the far post.
On five minutes, Charlton got behind the Dons’ backline for the first time but Scott Golbourne recovered in time to make an important block. However, from the resulting corner the Addicks broke the deadlock as Josh Magennis headed in from Jake Forster-Caskey's cross.
The Dons, in search of an immediate equaliser, threatened from a George Williams cross which Ryan Seager came close to connecting with in acrobatic fashion.
Ricky Holmes then produced a save out of Lee Nicholls on 19 minutes before Aneke sent a left-footed shot to the far post which Ben Amos gathered.
Neilson’s men received a slice of luck midway through the half when Forster-Caskey’s deflected effort from the edge of the area hit the inside of the left post and bounced away to safety.
The former Dons loanee then went close with a header from Ricky Holmes’ corner but he directed his effort over the bar from six-yards out.
The Dons had the final chance of the first half as Peter Pawlett saw a left-footed strike deflect wide of the right post with the half’s final chance. They also threatened first after the break but Gboly Ariyibi was unable to fashion a shot from Aneke’s cross.
Three minutes into the second period, Nicholls produced an excellent stop to deny Mark Marshall, who had beaten the offside trap to race through one-on-one with the Dons’ goalkeeper.
Neilson made his first substitution with 58 minutes on the clock, replacing his striker Seager with Agard in the hope of inspiring his side to draw level.
And that is exactly what happened in the just five minutes later, as the 28-year-old climbed well at the far post to home from Golbourne’s deep cross - Agard’s first goal of the season.
The goal revitalised the Dons and, willed on by their vocal supporters, they went agonisingly close to taking the lead but Aneke couldn’t find the target with just the goalkeeper to beat.
Aidan Nesbitt, introduced along with Conor McGrandles just prior to Agard’s equaliser, dragged a right-footed shot wide on 69 minutes. Ebanks-Landell then had a chance from Gilbey’s free-kick but his header was collected by Amos.
At the other end, a vital touch from Wootton prevented Holmes’ cross from finding Magennis on 77 minutes. Naby Sarr was then presented with a great opportunity to put his side back in front but from close-range he couldn’t find a way past Nicholls.
It was the Dons who looked the more likely to grab a late winner but with two minutes to play, from Tariqe Fosu’s cross, Golbourne inadvertently sent a clearance into his own net to put the Addicks ahead.
Neilson threw his men forwarded from the re-start, still optimistic of getting something from the contest and in stoppage time they were awarded the chance to do so.
Pawlett did well to retain possession inside the Addicks box before being tripped over by a defender. Agard, confident from his earlier goal, stepped up to take the penalty kick and fired the ball into the top left-hand corner of the net - securing a point for the men from MK1.
Starting XI: Nicholls; Williams, Ebanks-Landell, Wootton, Golbourne; Upson (McGrandles 62); Pawlett, Aneke, Gilbey, Ariyibi (Nesbitt 62); Seager (Agard 58).
Unused subs: Sietsma, Brittain, Walsh, Thomas-Asante.
Goal: Agard (63, 90+1)
Booked: Upson, Williams, Ebanks-Landell, McGrandles, Aneke
Attendance: 10,577 (602 away)
