mkdons.com takes a month-by-month look back at the promotion-winning 2018/19 campaign, with the month of December the next to be reviewed...
RECAP
While December got off to a strong start with the Dons beating Carlisle United 2-0 at Stadium MK, it proved to be their only victory of the month, as Paul Tisdale’s men went on to collect just one point from their remaining three matches before the turn of the year.
The Dons’ unbeaten home record, which was extended to 11 by that victory over Carlisle, came to an end a fortnight later as Colchester United picked up a snatch-and-grab 1-0 success - a loss which also put a stop to a run of six straight Stadium MK league wins.
Tisdale’s men didn’t recover in their final two matches, losing 3-1 at Cheltenham Town on Boxing Day before surrendering a two-goal lead away at Northampton Town in their final game of 2019 and coming away with only a point.
SKY BET LEAGUE TWO TABLE
| Pld | W | D | L | Pts | GD | ||
| 1 | Lincoln City | 24 | 15 | 5 | 4 | 50 | +21 |
| 2 | MK Dons | 24 | 12 | 8 | 4 | 44 | +16 |
| 3 | Mansfield Town | 23 | 10 | 12 | 1 | 42 | +18 |
| 4 | Colchester United | 25 | 12 | 6 | 7 | 42 | +11 |
| 5 | Bury | 25 | 11 | 7 | 7 | 40 | +17 |
| 6 | Forest Green Rovers | 24 | 10 | 10 | 4 | 40 | +13 |
| 7 | Exeter City | 25 | 11 | 7 | 7 | 40 | +8 |
GAME-BY-GAME
MK Dons 2-0 Carlisle United - Sky Bet League Two (Saturday 8th)
Second-half goals from Jordan Houghton and Kieran Agard, as well as an 11th clean sheet of the season, saw MK Dons beat Carlisle United 2-0 at Stadium MK.
For the third home match in succession, the Dons were forced to remain patient but took the lead through Houghton’s long-range effort five minutes into the second half.
Agard then doubled the lead with his 11th goal of the campaign and MK Dons saw out the remainder of the contest to make it six straight home league wins and keep their place at the top of the Sky Bet League Two table.
Starting XI: Nicholls, Williams, Houghton, Cargill; McGrandles, Gilbey, Cisse, Lewington (c); D’Ath (Sow 81); Agard (Watson 90+2), Healey (Pawlett 70).
Unused subs: Moore, Hancox, Simpson, Jackson.
Goal: Houghton (50), Agard (65)
Attendance: 6,849 (343 away)
***
MK Dons 0-1 Colchester United - Sky Bet League Two (Saturday 22nd)
Colchester United inflicted a first home league defeat on MK Dons as Luke Prosser’s 11th-minute goal earned them a 1-0 victory at Stadium MK.
Prosser found the net from an early corner for the visitors, who stifled the Dons all afternoon and became only the second Sky Bet League Two side all season to prevent Paul Tisdale’s men from finding the net.
Despite the result, the Dons retained their place in second heading into Christmas.
Starting XI: Nicholls; Williams, Houghton, Cargill; McGrandles, Cisse (Sow 74), Gilbey, Lewington (c); D’Ath; Agard (Aneke 46), Healey (Pawlett 46).
Unused subs: Moore, Watson, Hancox, Simpson.
Booked: Pawlett, D’Ath, Gilbey
Attendance: 7,765 (669 away)
***
Cheltenham Town 3-1 MK Dons - Sky Bet League Two (Wednesday 26th)
MK Dons suffered back-to-back league defeats for the first time in the 2018/19 season as they were beaten 3-1 by Cheltenham Town at the Jonny-Rocks Stadium.
Neil Atangana put the Robins ahead inside the opening quarter of an hour but Chuks Aneke cancelled it out with his 11th goal of the season.
Cheltenham, though, restored their lead in the final minute of the first half through Tyrone Barnett and then, after holding off the Dons throughout the second half, added to their tally late on - Chris Clements the goalscorer of the third goal.
The result meant Paul Tisdale's side occupied second place in the Sky Bet League Two table at the midway point of the season, four points adrift of leaders Lincoln City and two points clear of fourth-place Colchester United whom they hold a game in hand on.
Starting XI: Nicholls; Williams, Houghton, Cargill; McGrandles, Gilbey, Cisse (Watson 60), Lewington (c); D’Ath (Pawlett 60); Aneke, Agard (Simpson 72).
Unused subs: Moore (GK), Hancox, Kasumu, Healey.
Goal: Aneke (22)
Booked: Aneke, Cisse
Attendance: 3,266 (446 away)
***
Northampton Town 2-2 MK Dons - Sky Bet League Two (Saturday 29th)
Northampton Town scored two goals in the final 12 minutes of to deny MK Dons a victory in their final game of 2018.
Paul Tisdale’s men looked on course for all three points at the PTS Academy Stadium after goals from Alex Gilbey and Chuks Aneke had them two to the good heading into the final moments.
However, late finishes from Andy Williams and Junior Morais - the latter coming in stoppage time - ensured the spoils were shared.
The point meant MK Dons ended the calendar year second in the Sky Bet League Two table.
Starting XI: Nicholls; Williams, Baudry, Cargill; McGrandles (D’Ath 88), Gilbey, Houghton, Lewington (c); Healey, Aneke (Simpson 74), Agard (Moore-Taylor 82).
Unused subs: Moore, Watson, Pawlett, Hancox.
Goals: Gilbey (18), Aneke (69)
Booked: McGrandles, Lewington, Williams
Referee: G Scott
Attendance: 6,963 (1,449 away)
STATS
Appearances
Lee Nicholls 4
George Williams 4
Dean Lewington 4
Baily Cargill 4
Alex Gilbey 4
Conor McGrandles 4
Jordan Houghton 4
Kieran Agard 4
Lawson D’Ath 3 (1)
Ousseynou Cisse 3
Rhys Healey 3
Chuks Aneke 2 (1)
Peter Pawlett 0 (3)
Ryan Watson 0 (2)
Osman Sow 0 (2)
Robbie Simpson 0 (2)
Mathieu Baudry 1
Jordan Moore-Taylor 0 (1)
Goals
Chuks Aneke 2
Jordan Houghton 1
Kieran Agard 1
Alex Gilbey 1
