Not all O-Kay for Antony

Kay out for 3 months

Today came the news that Dons number 24 Antony Kay has been ruled out for 12 weeks after undergoing hip surgery.  Naturally as we've grown to love Antony Kay, the news he's been playing with an injury for a month comes as no surprise.

The 30 year-old Barnsley born defender joined the Dons after 3 seasons with Huddersfield, guiding them to League One promotion in 2012.  Having also spent 7 seasons with hometown club Barnsley and then 2 at Tranmere Rovers, Kay has a wealth of experience.

After moving to Stadium:MK on a free deal in the summer of 2012, Kay was thrust straight into the action for his debut against Oldham and this ended sour when he was sent off after the final whistle when a mass brawl broke out.  This was the first of 3 red cards and 2 broken noses in an eventful debut season in Milton Keynes.  His poor disciplinary record hurt Kay as he vowed to turn himself around for this campaign.

This season, he and Shaun Williams have been a wall in the MK Dons back line leading the Dons to 4 clean sheets so far this season with rare errors, leaving him arguably the Dons best player this season. With Kay now crocked and fellow centre half Tom Flanagan sidelined with injury, it will be a selection headache for Robinson in the coming weeks and would not surprised me if he dipped into the loan market for a centre back.

Get well soon AK, we'll miss you!

 

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

Peterborough United 2-1 MK Dons

Dons downed by 9 man Posh

Mid September saw MK Dons make the short trip to London Road for the first the first time in 30 months however none of the 8149 supporters that entered London Road could predict what they were about to see...

The Dons made one change from the home victory over lowly Notts County as Samir Carruthers replaced Jason Banton.  Darren Ferguson included Lee Tomlin, Tommy Rowe, Danny Swanson, Tyrone Barnett and top scorer Britt Assombalonga in a strong Posh lineup and a good match looked on the cards.

It took just 5 lively minutes for the game to be turned on its head.  Dons' top scorer Patrick Bamford dispossessed by Nathaniel Knight-Percival and the pair entered a foot race for the loose ball.  The Posh defender's flailing arm caught the defenseless Bamford clean in the face and this saw Darren Drysdale reduce Peterborough to 10 men for the next 85 minutes.

Knight-Percival catches Bamford

Straight away this put Robinson's men on the front foot, two solid banks of four from Peterborough was hard to break down for the Dons but Luke Chadwick had the perfect opportunity to break the deadlock.  The ball sat up nicely for him just 12 yards out but the ex-Manchester United midfielder could only send the ball way over Bobby Olejnik's goal and onto the the roof of the London Road terrace.

Tomlin sent posh into the lead

It was coming increasingly obvious that the home sides' best chance of creating an opportunity was through a counter attack, which they duly did.  Former MK Dons transfer target Danny Swanson broke through the visitors rearguard and was bundled over by a clumsy challenge from Shaun Williams.

Lee Tomlin stepped up and calmly slotted the ball straight down the middle sending London Road into raptures. 1 man down but 1 goal up.





MK Dons were sloppy throughout the first half and couldn't seem to string their passes together as Peterborough sat back and let the visitors come onto them.  Then as was expected the Dons finally got their chance. Williams in-swinging corner finding right-back Jon Otsemobor but the defender could only fire his header past Olejnik's left hand post.

Moments later the Posh stopper was called upon to make his first save of the game, Chadwick's cushioned header finding the on-loan Bamford however the striker could only direct his point plank header straight at Olejnik who made a smart save, the 'keeper was going to prove to be a thorn in the Stadium:MK side throughout.

But for the second time the visitors were going to be made to pay.  A rare Antony Kay error from Olejnik's kick saw Assombalonga  baring down on goal.  His cool finish through the legs of David Martin saw prolific Posh score their second goal with their first shot from open play on 34 minutes.

10 minutes before the break saw MK Dons' first change, Samir Carruthers to be replaced by George Baldock as the on-loan Carruthers was to depart in a neck brace at full time.

The Dons' were shocked but carried on trying to find a way through the Posh wall and almost did.  Danny Green's free kick smartly stopped by Olejnik as it was destined for the top corner.  This was followed by claims for a penalty for a push by Michael Bostwick on Bamford, however all in vain.  The winger was at it again seconds later as his long range drive was once again saved by Olejnik who tipped the ball acrobatically over his crossbar.

All that was left in the first period was for Tomlin to be shown a yellow card for simulation, much to the MK Dons supporters' delight.

A dismal dons first half display needed much improvement if they were to find their way past a resilient Posh defence and an inspired Olejnik.

 The Dons' felt fairly familiar coming out behind at half time, finding themselves in the same situation for the 4th time in the league this season and on the previous 3 occasions rescuing a point. Izale McLeod was introduced in place of Green for the second half as Robinson looked to salvage something.

The second half continued as the first ended, MK camped in the Peterborough half who had all 10 men behind the ball defending for their lives.

George Baldock cut in from the left and fired his 20 yard effort against the post to the relief of a helpless Olejnik as the travelling support felt it wouldn't be their day.

All the Dons could do was watch their crosses be headed away by a solid Bostwick and co. in the Posh defence and their long shots ping off blue shirts.  A frustrating start to the second half saw Alan Smith introduced.

The former England man was straight into the action, nodding headers down from the flanks, however none dropped at the feet of Dons players.

However with a quarter of an hour to go substitute Izale McLeod gave the Dons a lifeline.  Penalty box pin-ball saw Smith head the ball across goal to Bamford, Bamford headed the ball back across goal and found McLeod lurking at the back post, he simply couldn't miss.

McLeod tapped in for his 67th Dons goal

Within a minute Mark Little then lunged in late on Dons skipper Dean Lewington and he too was sent his marching orders.  Darren Ferguson's side down to 9 with 14 minutes remaining.

MK Dons continued to pile on the pressure and look for a leveler but Posh stood up to the task and if it wasn't for man of the match Olejnik the visitors would have been out of sight.  Another good stop from Smith as Bamford then struck the bar from range but that was all that Robinson's side could muster.

A lengthy amount of injury time wasn't enough as a relieved Peterborough side ran out 2-1 winners at London Road in a thoroughly enjoyable local derby.  The Dons defeated for the first time this season and will look to bounce back at home to Stevenage next week.

Peterborough:

1. Bobby Olejnik 31. Mark Little 6. Michael Bostwick 20. Nathaniel Knight-Percival 2. Craig Alcock 7. Danny Swanson (11. Grant McCann) 10. Lee Tomlin (5. Gabriel Zakuani) 8. Jack Payne 14. Tommy Rowe 23. Tyrone Barnett (3. Kgosi Ntlhe) 9. Britt Assombalonga 

Subs not used: 13. Joe Day 17. Joe Newell 19. Nathaniel Mendez-Laing 28. Jaanai Gordon-Hutton

Goals: Tomlin (pen) 12' Assombalonga 34'

Booked: Tomlin, Assombalonga, Swanson, Barnett

Off: Knight-Percival, Little

MK Dons:

1. David Martin 2. Jon Otsemobor 6. Shaun Williams 24. Antony Kay 3. Dean Lewington 8. Darren Potter 7. Stephen Gleeson 23. Danny Green (13. Izale McLeod) 10. Luke Chadwick (11. Alan Smith) 22. Samir Carruthers (18. George Baldock) 15. Patrick Bamford

Subs not used: 16. Ian McLoughlin 5. Lee Hodson 14. Dele Alli 21. Jason Banton

Goals: McLeod 74'

Booked:

MK Dons 3-1 Notts County

Notts such an easy day for County

MK Dons breased past a poor Notts County side thanks to goals from Luke Chadwick, Shaun Williams and Patrick Bamford.  MK welcomed back Samir Carruthers fresh off his international duties as Jason Banton was dropped to the bench, Karl Robinson's only change. County handed a debut to new loan signing Marcus Haber who was partnered by Danny Haynes in attack, behind them was on-loan Celtic midfielder Callum McGregor, summer signing David Bell, set piece specialist Alan Sheehan and experienced centre backs Dean Leacock and Gary Liddle.

MK Dons hadn't suffered defeat to any Notts County side since December 2010 and this run looked set to continue from the off, referee Scott Mathieson blew his whistle and virtually the first attack of the match saw the Dons go one up. Sheehan's week header back towards Bialkowski saw in-form Dons striker Bamford get to the ball before the onrushing County keeper. Bamford turned and slid the ball into the path of Luke Chadwick who couldn't believe his luck and calmly slotted the ball into the unguarded net after just 5 minutes. The worst possible start for Chris Kiwomya's men.

Chadwick gave MK Dons the perfect start

A pair of yellow cards followed for McGregor and Haynes as bottom side Notts went in search of a quick leveller. It was the Magpies' that has the next chance 11 minutes later. A delightful cross in from the left towards Haber who saw his powerful header juggled by Martin on the goal line, cue the appeals that were waved away by referee Mathieson.

Williams doubled the advantage

Karl Robinson's men then took control as Carruthers fired a shot just wide.  The lively Bamford then floated a cross for Stephen Gleeson to watch his placed header hit the woodwork.  The Dons' needed a second goal and it wasn't far away.

County gave away a sloppy free kick just outside the box and set piece expert Shaun Williams curled his shot over the wall, away from Bialkowski who could merely watch as the ball flew past him into the top corner and Williams grabbed his second of the season and MK Dons' second of the game.

Half time arrived at 2-0, however a cricket score looked on the cards at Stadium:MK.

The start of the second half continued how the first ended, Carruthers giving County another warning as his shot skimmed the top of Bialkowski's net and on-loan winger Danny Green saw his effort cleared off the line, the Dons looking for more to make the score emphatic.

Kiwomya then made changed to his lackluster Notts' side, introducing Yoann Arquinn and Jack Grealish for the unimpressive David Bell and Danny Haynes.

This made no difference and it was the rampant Dons that carried on pushing, Bamford sending a tame header into the awaiting hands of the Notts' stopper before he got down sharply to deny Bamford once again from a goal bound shot.

Despite the Dons' pressure County then countered.  McGregor beating a poor offside trap and confidently dispatching the ball past Martin giving the Nottinghamshire side a lifeline.

Robinson then sent on McLeod and Alli for Green and Chadwick. The substitutes combined as the Dons' all time leading goalscorer cut in from the left found himself 1 on 1. He shaped towards the far corner and was a whisker away from Making it 3.

McLeod was then sent through for a second time and once again failed to beat Bialkowski as the danger was cleared but the home side weren't finished yet.

Alli and McLeod linked up once again and Notts' keeper went to smother at the feet of McLeod.  All he could do was parry to Bamford who calmly volleyed into an empty net under pressure, in front of the Cowshed, for his 6th of the season and putting the result beyond doubt.

Bamford netting once again

Full time at Stadium:MK and County were no further to sorting their problems, an awful display and the Dons were comfortable throughout. Robinson's men have the week off, whereas County travel to table topping Orient on Tuesday.

MK Dons 1-1 Swindon Town

Robinson's men officially robbed

MK Dons' fixture against Swindon Town is one that always has an edge about it.  To add to this one, the Sky cameras were in town for an early kick off.

The Dons, unlike Swindon had played midweek in the JPT and  made 3 changes to the lineup that started at Bramall Lane the previous Saturday. Jon Otsemobor came in at right back for Lee Hodson who was away on international duty.  Samir Carruthers made way for the on-loan Danny Green for the same reason and Izale McLeod took up his place on the bench for the experienced Luke Chadwick.  Reds' boss Mark Cooper included Jay McEveley, Massimo Luongo, Alex Pritchard and ex-Newcastle striker Nile Ranger.

With the football world watching referee Stuart Attwell started the game and it was the visitors, in red, who had the game's first shot.  Unselfish work by Ranger saw his layoff find Pritchard who forced a smart save from David Martin in the Dons' goal.  

After the opening exchanges Gleeson was the next to go close, his thunderbolt from range being tipped over by Wes Foderingham.  Just 4 minutes later saw the first goal. A free kick 25 yards out on the Swindon right saw Pritchard and McEveley standing over the ball. Pritchard stepped up and saw his fantastic effort swing over and round the virtually non existent wall and out of reach of Martin, a brilliant effort.

Pritchard put Swindon a goal to the good

The Dons went in search of a leveler but it took the best part of 15 minutes to come, in-form front man Patrick Bamford was presented with an opportunity but a last ditch tackle from Yaser Kasim saw the danger quickly eradicated. The Dons then saw 3 penalty appeals turned down by referee Attwell, much do the anger and dismay of boss Robinson, however the men from MK1 continued to press and ex-Manchester United midfielder Luke Chadwick was next to go close, his effort blocked away by a resilient Swindon back line.

As the game was destined towards half time, Martin was called upon once again as a lively Pritchard fizzed a a cross across goal, forcing Martin to parry away straight to Ranger who's shot on the turn brought another impressive save from the former Liverpool stopper.

Half time and Cooper's side were ahead, 1-0.

For the second time in 2 home league games the Dons trailed at the break and once again came out all guns blazing. As the crowd found their way back to their seats a floated cross found the awaiting Jason Banton lurking at the far post 10 yards out with the goal at his mercy, however the winger got himself in a tangle and his scuffed shot ended up going out for a goal kick and Swindon breathed a sigh of relief.

After early second half pressure the Reds looked to put the game out of sight, summer signing Luongo firing his shot straight at Martin from the edge of the box. 

On 51 minutes came the  turning point, Nathan Byrne's run stopped by Irishman Shaun Williams.  Eager to get the ball back, he put in a late tackle on the Dons' defender, missing the ball completely and treading on Williams ankle.  Attwell deemed this worth of a straight red and Byrne was sent for an early bath, leaving his manager fuming and Robinson bemused.

Byrne dismissed for a late challenge

Keen to take advantage, within four minutes the ball was put through to on-loan striker Bamford who found a gaping whole between the two centre halves and ran through to calmly poke the ball beyond the watching Foderingham in front of the Cowshed and bringing his team level. A classy goal from a man on fire, the 20 year old collecting his 5th goal in 7 games. A crazy 10 minutes to start the second half.

Bamford's cool finish earned a point

This left either side 35 minutes to search for the winner.  Robinson's men with their man advantage used the momentum to carve out another shot on goal, wide man Green cutting in from the left and unleashing a shot towards the top corner to see a flying Foderingham in the way and diverting the ball for a corner, which came to nothing.

With 15 minutes to go the managers rung the changes, for the Dons youngster Dele Alli on in place of Chadwick and McLeod introduced in place of an impressive Banton.  Goalscorer Pritchard was hauled off by Cooper alongside Ranger to see Nicky Ajose and deadline day signing Danny N'Guessan replace them.

The next 10 minutes saw more pressure from the home side but nothing in the way of chances and in the 86th minute the final changes were made.  Ex-Dons midfielder Ryan Harley was on for Luongo and Green was replaced by Baldock.

The 88th minute saw controversy, Bamford's scuffed shot landed at the feet of Baldock who slotted the ball through Foderingham's legs sending Stadium:MK into raptures but to be denied by the offside flag, which replays showed to be completely the wrong decision.

That saw the game through to its climax and it was a point apiece at Stadium:MK in an exciting game.  A great advert for League One football.

Player Ratings:

David Martin- Made a number of good saves to deny Swindon, kept it at one for a long time. 9

Jon Otsemobor- Looked solid in defence however didn't offer much going forward. 7

Antony Kay- Last week's match winner once again a brick wall at the back. 8.5

Shaun Williams- Looked a threat from set pieces, accompanied Kay well in defence. 8

Dean Lewington- Long-serving Lewington was brilliant in his 3rd game in a week after injury. 8.5

Stephen Gleeson- Almost scored with a pile driver from range and dictated the game after the red card. 8

Darren Potter- Provided the assist for Bamford's equaliser and looked good throughout. 8

Jason Banton- Lively once again saw him pass Swindon defenders with ease at times, should have scored himself. 8

Luke Chadwick- Was marshaled well by Swindon and couldn't really get into the game. Glimpses of his usual self at times. 7

Danny Green- Provides something different, a brilliant crosser with an eye for goal and good set piece delivery, looked good and went close in the second period. 8

Patrick Bamford- 'They're starting to talk about this boy' sums up his efforts of the last few weeks and cannot stop scoring, long may it continue! Another good perfomance. 8.5

Izale Mcleod- The nearly man of the squad, impressed again for me. 7.5

Dele Alli- He looks a class act and put in a good show off the bench, his surging runs from midfield becoming his trademark.  Good link up play on the wing too. 7.5

George Baldock- Carrying on with his early season form and should have had his first senior goal. 8

Sheffield United 0-1 MK Dons

MK Dons 'steel' 3 points in Sheffield

The last day of August saw MK Dons' travel to Bramall Lane, the home of David Weir's Sheffield United.  Games between the Dons and the Blades had always been close, seeing just 5 goals in 4 previous meetings.  MK Dons had come out on top twice, United once and the single draw.  Another close, hard fought battle looked on the cards in South Yorkshire.

Karl Robinson was still without Dean Bowditch and Daniel Powell (both injured) however captain Dean Lewington returned at left back and Ben Reeves occupied the substitutes' bench. Izale McLeod was handed a start, along with Samir Carruthers as Patrick Bamford moved out to the wing.  David Weir included new signing Jose Baxter with fellow summer recruits Lyle Taylor and Conor Coady joining him. The Blades' team looked strong, fielding Tony McMahon, Harry Maguire, Neill Collins and Michael Doyle amongst others.

Referee David Webb blew and the Dons, in black, kicked the game off.  The early pressure came from the home side who went into the game with just one win and one draw to their name this season.  Murphy swinging a cross in towards Taylor however the ball was gathered by Dons' keeper David Martin.  Sheffield United were playing towards their famous Kop in the first half and the first quarter of an hour saw them obtain many set piece opportunities, yet none of them yielding any noticeable chances.

A bruising encounter at Bramall Lane

Quarter of an hour in and the Dons had their first opening, slick movement down the left saw McLeod in to the six yard box, goal gaping. Players waiting.  But not for the first time this season McLeod's final ball let him down, his 'shot' trickling out for a goal kick, much to everyone's disbelief.

United looked to hit back, Taylor and Baxter combining well on a number of occasions and firing shots at goal, neither troubling Martin.  The game then became stop start. Fouls became often as both teams looking to increase the intensity.  All that was left in the first half was for McLeod to have a strong penalty claim waved away by referee Webb as the Dons' frontman looked to have been shoved by Maguire.

Half time at Bramall Lane, Sheffield United 0-0 MK Dons

The second half was upon us and not long after the restart saw the games best chance so far. Baxter drilling his effort into the foot of Antony Kay, the ball looping up into Taylor's path with the goal at his mercy however he could not convert, his taim shot trickling wide of Martin's right-hand post.

Martin's save from McMahon

The hour mark saw Robinson change it around, McLeod hauled off, Chadwick sent on.  Bamford resorted into his more familiar striker role but it was Sheffield United who had the next attempt.  Set-piece specialist McMahon saw his free kick smartly saved by David Martin low down to his right. 

The next 20 minutes saw both teams go toe to toe, fighting it out for the winner and as the last 5 minutes arrived the game was heading for stalemate.  Banton and Carruthers replaced by Baldock and Alli for the Dons whereas Febian Brandy and Joe Ironside were introduced in place of Taylor and Jamie Murphy. 

In the 85th minute Ryan Flynn fizzed a cross into the Dons' box which caused havoc within MK's ranks and Brandy found himself with an empty net just 7 yards out and the game looked won. However Brandy could not convert, scuffing his shot wide and leaving the Blades' attack blunt.

From the resulting goal kick Bamford was impeded in the air.  The men from MK1 awarded a free kick 30 yards out on the right.  Shaun Williams lofted his left-footed cross invitingly towards the back post where Barnsley-born Antony Kay placed his header across George Long and into the far corner, wheeling away into celebration in front of the Kop which rapidly started to empty.

Shortly after 5 minutes of added time were signaled and David Weir had his last throw of the dice. Callum McFadzean on for Flynn. The extra minutes saw no more chances.  All that was left was for a frustrated Brandy to go in with a horrific 2-footed lunge on the Dons' Northern Ireland international defender Lee Hodson and was swiftly shown a red card.  His 27 minutes to forget were over.

The referee blew to signify MK Dons' second win of the season.   Their first away win of the new term and a hard fought one at that. The unbeaten start continues.  An old fashioned 'smash and grab' at the oldest league ground in the world.

Player Ratings:

David Martin- The Dons' number 1 kept his team in the game at times with some impressive saves. 8.5

Lee Hodson- The right back showed his class and was a brick wall throughout. 9

Antony Kay- Another solid show from the Yorkshireman, standing up to everything thrown at him and heading the Dons to victory. 8.5

Shaun Williams- Classy as ever, Williams dictated from the back and provided the assist for his central defensive partner Kay. 8 

Dean Lewington- Back from a month out, Lewington was thrown in at the deep end against a strong side and coped well, quiet but effective. 8

Stephen Gleeson- Continued to impress, having to battle hard in the middle of the park. 8

Darren Potter- The ex-Wednesdayite was a thorn in Sheffield United's side. 7.5

Patrick Bamford- Bamford, in an unfamiliar position was forced to work hard and played well. 7.5

Samir Carruthers- Showed his premier league class once again, dancing his way around defenders and linking up well with team mates. 8

Jason Banton- Frozen out by the United rearguard, quiet game and will be looking to improve next time out. 6.5

Izale McLeod- Continues to make the right runs and link up well however his final ball still needs work. 7.5

George Baldock- Came on and looked lively, added energy when rest were tired. 7

Luke Chadwick- Used his experience to guide the Dons to victory and then home. 7.5

Dele Alli- Wasn't given enough time to get into the game, battled hard throughout. 7