MK Dons 4-1 Stevenage

Dominant Dons Down Sorry Stevenage

Both teams went into this one looking for bounce back from disappointing results last weekend.  MK Dons were defeated by nine-man Peterborough and Stevenage were uninspiring in a gutless defeat to Carlisle, much to the dismay of manager Graham Westley.  Karl Robinson made 2 changes to his starting line-up with academy graduate Dele Alli and Northern Ireland international Lee Hodson coming in for Jon Otsemobor and the crocked Samir Carruthers.  Westley included James Dunne and ex-Arsenal academy man Luke Freeman in his XI at Stadium:MK, a ground at which Stevenage had once won and once lost in 2 league visits.

It was the visitors that started the brighter on a sunny day in MK1 as Michael Doughty brought down a long ball from the back but fired his volley into the 500 travelling supporters without troubling David Martin. The Dons were looking to get their rhythm going and it wasn't long before their first opening, Shaun Williams picked out Patrick Bamford with a delightfully dinked cross but the on-loan striker could only head the ball wide of Chris Day's goal.

Just 12 minutes in saw the first goal.  Shaun Williams lined up a free kick from the Dons right and once again took aim for Bamford.  For the second time in the game he found him and Bamford guided his header onto the post and in to continue his record of scoring in every home game this season. 

Robinson had asked his men to be more ruthless after watching his side squander numerous opportunities and ten minutes later he was to watch his team become deadly. Stephen Gleeson's unselfish drive without the ball caused chaos in the Boro' back line as Lewington ran down the left.  His pass found Gleeson who's back heel was laid into the path of Chadwick, his touch took him to the dead ball line and a perfect cutback found Bamford who was never going to miss from 6 yards and swept the Dons 2-0 up with his 13th MK Dons goal in a beautiful passing move.  Stevenage had a lot of work to do. 

Bamford celebrating his second

60 seconds later and the uphill task turned into a mountain. Sloppy passing lead to that man Bamford again, his pass dissecting the Stevenage defence and finding Alli, he slipped but managed to jab the ball home for the 17 year old's first MK Dons league goal.  The hosts were all over the visitors and it looked game over. 

Alli was on target for the Dons

Within 35 minutes it could just have easily been 4.  Bamford's run and cutback found Chadwick but ex-Hartlepool defender Peter Hartley was there to clear, Stevenage in disarray but as half time edged closer the Dons got complacent.  Luke Freeman surged down the left and cleverly beat Antony Kay before firing a low cross across goal which was too much for Darren Potter to handle and the ex-Sheffield Wednesday midfielder could do nothing but fire the ball into the top corner of his own net.  

Half time arrived as Stevenage gave themselves something to cling onto for the second period. 3-1 to MK Dons at the break.

Stevenage came out with it all to do in the second half but found themselves on the back foot once again as another cross from out wide almost ended up with Bamford's third, his header just off target.  Minutes later Westley's side had a header of their own fired off target by defender Jon Ashton.

MK went about making the 3 points safe as they were buoyed on by a constant chant of 'MK Army' from the Cowshed and on the hour they done all but that.  Alli adjudged to have been pushed as he fell to the Stadium:MK turf, a very soft penalty.  Regular penalty taker Williams stepped up to send Day the wrong way and the men from MK1 had hit 4 for the first time this campaign.

Williams made it 4

With the game all but wrapped up Robinson decided it was the moment to reintroduce Daniel Powell for the first time this season following his lengthy 10 week injury layoff in place of Luke Chadwick and 10 minutes later Alli was taken off after a fine display, in place of Izale McLeod.

On 83 minutes came Stevenage's first meaningful shot of the second half.  Boro man of the match Freeman's mazy run bamboozling the Dons defence and his shot across goal could only find the bottom of the post. 

The Hertfordshire side hit the post for the second time minutes later after Oumare Tounkara was put through one on one with Martin but nothing was going to stop it from being MK Dons' and particularly Bamford's day as the striker added to his growing reputation.

Robinson will be delighted with the character from his side after last week's disappointment whereas Stevenage's winless run stretches to 5 league games.

Robinson was delighted with what he saw

Final score- MK Dons 4-1 Stevenage

MK Dons:

1. David Martin 5. Lee Hodson 24. Antony Kay 6. Shaun Williams 3. Dean Lewington 7. Stephen Gleeson 8. Darren Potter (12. Ben Reeves) 23. Danny Green 10. Luke Chadwick (17. Daniel Powell) 14. Dele Alli (13. Izale McLeod) 15. Patrick Bamford

Subs not used: 16. Ian McLoughlin 2. Jon Otsemobor 11. Alan Smith 18. George Baldock

Goals: Bamford 12' 22' Alli 23' Williams 62' (pen)

Stevenage:

16. Chris Day 2. Sam Wedgbury 3. Lee Hills (13. Don Cowan) 5. Jon Ashton 8. James Dunne 15. Luke Freeman 17. Greg Tansey 20. Jimmy Smith (21. Oumare Tounkara) 24. Michael Doughty (32. Robin Shroot) 29. Peter Hartley 34 Roarie Deacon

Subs not used: 1. Steve Arnold 6. Luke Jones 14. Simon Heslop 23. Dani Lopez

Goals: Potter (OG) 42'

Booked: Deacon