Scott Twine’s 95th-minute winner saw MK Dons move to within five points of top spot in Sky Bet League One courtesy of a 1-0 victory over Burton Albion.
Liam Manning’s men dominated the Pirelli Stadium contest but had to wait until stoppage-time to find the winning goal that they deserved – and it was some goal too from MK Dons’ number nine, who beat Ben Garratt with an 18-yard looping half-volley.
While the Dons remain fifth in Sky Bet League One, they are now just four points behind leaders Wigan Athletic while they have moved five points clear of seventh-placed Plymouth Argyle.
Team news
MK Dons were unchanged from the weekend, with Liam Manning naming the same starting XI and substitutes.
First half
It was the visitors who threatened goal first, but they were denied by first the post and then a terrific save by Jamie Cumming, diving low at the feet of Gassan Ahadme.
The Dons then went close through Theo Corbeanu, whose low ball across goal went untouched through the six-yard box before being dealt with by a defender. From the resulting corner, Corbeanu went for goal himself but could only find the side netting.
On 17 minutes, John Brayford headed wide for Burton following a long throw into the box. At the other end, Corbeanu dragged a right-footed shot wide while McEachran also went close, forcing a fingertip save out of Ben Garratt from 20 yards out.
That McEachran chance led to a corner, from which Tennai Watson saw a dipping half-volley crash against the crossbar. Twine was the next to go close after that as his deflected effort from the edge of the D was gathered by Garratt.
Just past the half-hour, Corbeanu went for goal again, cutting in from the left and forcing Garratt into a smart save. Twine then had another attempt blocked, this time from just inside the area.
The Dons’ best opportunity of the first half arrived with four minutes to play until the interval but neither Parrott nor Eisa could find the net. Parrott was initially denied by a terrific save from Garratt and Eisa, on the follow up, wasn’t able to connect cleanly and the chance went begging.
Half-Time – Burton Albion 0-0 MK Dons
Second half
The Dons made a fast start to the second half but were denied by a fantastic piece of goalkeeping from Garratt, who somehow kept Parrott’s goal-bound strike out with his left arm.
A bending Eisa shot was then blocked as Manning’s men came forward again in search of an early goal at the start of the second. Corbeanu’s run down the right shortly after led to an opportunity for McEachran but he couldn’t keep his effort down.
Burton provided a reminder of their threat in the 65th minute but Cumming produced a stunning point-blank stop to keep out Ahadme's close-range try. O'Hora then denied him on the follow up with a stunning last-ditch tackle.
Manning went to his bench with just over 20 minutes to play, replacing Eisa with Connor Wickham in attack. Hiram Boateng followed after that in place of Corbeanu and he played a part early in winning a corner, from which Parrott glanced a header just wide.
It looked to be heading for another frustrating result for Manning and his men but they never stopped trying and with virtually the last kick of the game, they won it.
A pass forward from McEachran was headed down by Wickham and although a Burton defender got to the ball first, Twine nipped in to win possession before sending a half-volley over the helpless Garratt and into the back of the net for all three points. 0-1.
MK Dons: Cumming, Watson, Lewington, O’Hora, Twine, Eisa (Wickham 69), Corbeanu (Boateng 84), Coventry, McEachran, Parrott, Harvie.
Subs: Ravizzoli, Bird, Ilunga, Davies.
Goal: Twine (90+5)
Burton Albion: Garratt, Brayford, Borthwick-Jackson (Kokolo 60), Oshilaja, Ahadme (Moult 84), Hughes, Jebbison, Taylor (Shaughnessy 54), Maddox, Hamer.
Subs: Hawkins, O’Connor, Mancienne, Lakin.
Booked: Hughes, Moult
Referee: D Handley
Attendance: 2,171
