Dons aren't the Buffers for the Orient Express
MK Dons travelled to East London to face table topping Leyton Orient at Brisbane Road. In the midst of an international weekend, Karl Robinson was unable to pick full back Lee Hodson (Northern Ireland) and Brendan Galloway (England Lions). Therefore Robinson opted for Daniel Powell, Luke Chadwick and Samir Carruthers all to start in behind top scorer Patrick Bamford. Jon Otsemobor came in for Hodson and Tom Flanagan was handed his second start of the season after serving his 1 match ban during the midweek game away to Stevenage. Finally, Ian McLoughlin took the place of injured goalkeeper David Martin. Orient boss Russell Slade was boosted by Kevin Lisbie overcoming his dead leg to partner fellow striker David Mooney in League One's most deadly attack to date. Former MK Dons target Dean Cox was also in from the off as last week's goalscorer Shaun Batt was dropped to the bench.
3 o'clock came and surprisingly for an MK Dons game, we kicked off on time. Table topping Orient started the better, pressuring the visitors from the start. If only Lisbie managed to break the Dons stubborn offside trap, he would have been in on numerous occasions however the longer it went on, the more the frustration grew.
No real chances came from the opening stages however Orient were definitely on top, half chances coming and going as Shaun Williams and Tom Flanagan dealt with everything thrown at them. It took half an hour for the first chance to come and against the run of play it fell to on-loan striker Patrick Bamford. Played in by Luke Chadwick, Bamford ran at Nathan Clarke who was reluctant to challenge. Bamford cut in on his trusted left foot and curled his shot past Jamie Jones to put the visitors one up.
The Dons were playing in their third away game in just 7 days and were keen to avoid a hat trick of defeats. Through Bamford, they have a man bang in form, his 9th League One goal in just 11 games this season giving the Dons the advantage.
 |
| Bamford celebrating his 11th goal in all competitions |
The O's were keen to pull the lead back quick and just 7 minutes later came close to doing so. Neat play down the home side's right hand side saw a cross delivered towards Mooney, he outjumped Dons academy product Tom Flanagan but could only send his header inches wide of Ian McLoughlin's right hand post.
However it was only a matter of time. It had been coming for the whole half. Darren Potter carelessly giving the ball to in form striker Mooney, he set out for the bi-line and fired a low cross towards strike partner Lisbie. Lisbie, crowded out by Dons defenders with his back to goal, laid the ball off to winger Moses Odubajo, who placed his left footed shot clinically into the bottom corner to bring the hosts level.
 |
| Obubajo's fine finish made it 1-1 |
A flutter of half chances were to follow once again including a soft effort from the impressive Cox that McLoughlin comfortably gathered.
That took the game through to half time. Russell Slade's side would have been expecting and deserving more. MK were looking like they were going to carry on their poor away form, with just one away victory all season so far.
The second half started slowly. Both teams struggled to get going as neither side could muster any attempt of note. The visitors were sloppy, however the East London outfit could not capitalise.
It took 20 minutes for some action. Lisbie and Mooney have been hard to contain for pretty much every side in the third tier this season and they were at it again. For the second time in the afternoon, they were both involved in another goal. Cox headed the ball towards the ex-Charlton striker who flicked the ball to Mooney. Mooney's ball round the corner dissected the Dons defence perfectly leaving Lisbie one on one to stab the ball past McLoughlin and send the O's into pole position for 3 points.
 |
| Lisbie's toe earned Orient all 3 points |
Robinson felt it was time for change. George Baldock and Izale McLeod were introduced for the quiet Samir Carruthers and Luke Chadwick. A tad of fortune almost saw the Dons back on terms. Baldock's direct run at Elliot Omozusi saw the ex-Fulham full back poke a leg out towards the ball. The ball then bounced kindly for McLeod who's sweetly timed volley from the edge of the area thundered against Jamie Jones' crossbar who barely saw it, the visitors couldn't have come much closer.
Minutes later McLeod was at it again, the rejuvenated Flanagan's diagonal ball forward was controlled by the substitute on his chest just a matter of yards out but could only fire his point blank shot into Jones' mid-drift.
 |
| McLeod almost earned a point |
The Dons introduced Alan Smith in a late rally of direct balls towards the Orient goal but there was to be only one winner. MK Dons slip to their third consecutive defeat in all competitions as the Orient express moves onto its next port of call.
Leyton Orient
1. Jamie Jones 2. Elliot Omozusi 4. Romain Vincelot 5. Scott Cuthbert 6. Mathieu Baudry 7. Dean Cox 8. Lloyd James 9. Kevin Lisbie (14. Shaun Batt) 10. David Mooney 11. Moses Odubajo 15. Nathan Clarke
Subs not used: 12. Jake Larkins 3. Gary Sawyer 16. Harry Lee 19. Yohann Lasimant 21. Marvin Bartley 22. Jayden Stockley
Goals: Odubajo 42' Lisbie 67'
Booked: Cuthbert
MK Dons:
16. Ian McLoughlin 2. Jon Otsemobor (11. Alan Smith) 3. Dean Lewington 4. Tom Flanagan 6. Shaun Williams 7. Stephen Gleeson 8. Darren Potter 10. Luke Chadwick (13. Izale McLeod) 15. Patrick Bamford 17. Daniel Powell 22. Samir Carruthers (18. George Baldock)
Subs not used: 30. Charlie Burns 12. Ben Reeves 20. Giorgio Rasulo 21. Jason Banton
Goals: Bamford 30'
Booked:
No comments:
Post a Comment