MK Dons made it back-to-back victories in the Leasing.com Trophy after a 1-0 win over Fulham Under-21s.
After dominating the first half, the Dons finally found the breakthrough via Kieran Agard as the forward turned home from Brennan Dickenson's cross.
The results puts MK Dons top of Group G, having scored four goals and conceded zero after their opening two group games.
Despite it being a cup competition, Paul Tisdale fielded a strong team with Dean Lewington, Regan Poole, Alex Gilbey and Russell Martin all retaining their place in the squad. Elsewhere, first-team regulars, Hiram Boateng and Kieran Agard were also handed a start.
Stuart Moore was handed Goalkeeping duties for the evening, while Dylan Asonganyi partnered Agard in attack.
Tisdale also handed a first-team debut to Matthew Sorinola, while there was also a return to action for Jordan Moore-Taylor, who featured for the first time since January.
It was Fulham who had the first chance of the evening, as Luca De La Torre drove forward after winning possession, he dragged his effort wide of Moore’s goal.
Sorinola then had his first involvement of the evening, he disposed Zico Asare, before reliving the pressure by finding Moore.
The first chance for MK Dons came via Sorinola too, he picked out Jordan Moore-Taylor after a corner was cleared – the defender could only head over.
Moore-Taylor went close once again from a corner, this time putting wide from Gilbey’s corner with 10-minutes on the clock.
Sorinola was looking bright down the right, his driven cross was headed narrowly wide by Agard.
The Dons almost found the lead through what would’ve been a freak goal as Gilbey blocked the clearance of Fulham’s keeper Luca Ashby-Hammond, only for the ball to bounce off the post and into Ashby-Hammond’s arms.
The Dons continued their early dominance, as Agard had a low shot blocked before Dickenson’s corner was headed away by Ben Davis.
Agard went close again on 17-minutes, after some impressive work by Poole. The defender picked up the ball in his own half before driving into the box, he found Agard who had his shot deflected behind.
Martin then hit the crossbar after Moore-Taylor headed into his path from Dickenson’s corner.
Conor McAvoy was penalised for handball on the edge of the box for Fulham, with both Dickenson and Gilbey standing over the free-kick. It was Dickenson who took – his effort cannoned off the upright before Fulham cleared.
Agard was then denied with 25-minutes on the clock by some last-ditch defending from the Fulham backline.
Asonganyi almost gave the Dons the lead with five minutes remaining in the first-half, after Agard’s cross was cleared, Martin picked up possession on the edge of the box. After shaping onto his right foot, he floated a cross into the box, but Asonganyi headed narrowly wide.
The final chance of the first half came for Fulham, as David dragged wide from the edge of the box before Moore claimed the following corner.
After an impressive return to action, Moore-Taylor was subbed at half-time and replaced by Conor McGrandles.
The midfielder had an immediate impact as he played a crucial role in the Dons taking the lead. Having received the ball just inside the Fulham half with his back to goal, McGrandles backheeled into the patch of Dickenson, his low delivery was turned home by Agard. 1-0.
The visitors looked for an immediate reply and had two chances within quick succession - Moore was equal to both.
Agard almost had his second of the evening on 55-minutes but was denied by Ashby-Hammond at his near post
With time and space inside his own half, Gilbey picked out the run of Agard with a perfectly weighted through ball. After getting the ball under his control, Agard forced a corner, Dickenson's cross was cleared.
McGrandles was involved once again in the final third shortly after the hour mark, and could've had an assist to his name if it wasn't for some clever goalkeeping. He kept the ball well inside Fulham's box before picking out the run of Asonganyi, his shot, however, was saved.
Fulham kept pushing for an equaliser, Taylor-Crossdale going closest, his shot went over Moore's bar.
The Dons continued to push for their second of the afternoon and came close when McGrandles' free-kick was headed over the bar by Poole.
Moore then made a crucial save from six-yards to deny Sony Hilton before Brittain cleared.
MK Dons XI: Moore, Lewington, Poole (Brennan 90+2), Gilbey, Dickenson, Agard, Moore-Taylor (McGrandles 46), Martin, Boateng, Asonganyi, Sorinola (Brittain 73)
Goal: Agard (50)
Unsed subs: Nicholls, Nombe, Leach, Freeman
Fulham Under-21s XI: Ashby-Hammond, Francois, De La Torre, Davis (Hilton 69), Taylor-Crossdale, Drameh, Harris (Jasper 86), Mundle-Smith, Santos-Clase (Carvalho 59), Asare, McAvoy
Unused subs: Wickens, Tricker, de Havilland, Abraham.
Referee: D Drysdale
Attendance: 1,473
