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