MK Dons 0-1 AFC Bournemouth
Holders knocked out of Johnstone's Paint Trophy
A second half strike from Darren Anderton gave lowly Bournemouth victory over 10-man MK Dons.
Last year's cup winners had Flavien Belson harshly sent off in the second half, with The Cherries going on to win the game through the
former England international's strike 13 minutes from time.
It meant Roberto Di Matteo's men will not be heading to Wembley this year, exiting in the second round of the Southern Section of the competition in what was a game lacking quality and excitement in front of a small crowd.
The Dons boss made seven changes to the side that beat Millwall at the New Den on Saturday, with Kevin Gallen partnering Jemal Johnson upfront.
Nathan Abbey made his first appearance of the season, Jude Stirling returned to the centre of defence along with Carl Regan at right back.
While foreign duo Florian Sturm and Flavien Belson were recalled to midfield.
But none of the recalled men made an impact in a dull first half in which the only real chance came three minutes into injury time when Jason Pearce's poor header across goal was blasted over from close range by Sturm.
The game was that poor and boring in the first half that maybe referee Anthony Taylor wanted to inject some life into proceedings.
And that is what he did as he sent of Belson just a minute into the half when he went through the back of Pittman. The tackle was a tad rash but never a sending off.
For the first time it meant Bournemouth could put some pressure on the Dons goal and Pittman had a cheeky back post that just rolled past the post after a superb dummied shot from Anderton.
With 20 minutes left Dons should have taken the lead though when Sturm's precise cross found Gallen at the back post but Shwan Jalal somehow got a hand to it and kept the ball out.
Moments later the game saw one of the messiest goalmouth scrambles you are ever likely too see but somehow Dons kept the ball out of the net.
Warren Cummings' cross was headed into the ground and goal bound by Pittman, the ball was somehow kept out with Cooper and Hollands both having efforts that somehow stayed out.
Then in action packed few minutes Anderton thundered the bar from 30-yards past the diving Abbey.
But he went one better two minutes later when Hollands was given too much time on the edge of the box and his scuffed shot was cleverly guided home by The Cherries' skipper.
Dons huffed and puffed for an equaliser, but lacking a physical presence up front the visitors were able to hold on and advance to the next stage.
MK Dons: Abbey, Regan, O'Hanlon (Llera 46), Stirling, Lewington, Wright (Chadwick 46), Navarro, Belson, Sturm (Chicksen 70), Gallen (booked 36), Johnson
Subs: Gueret, Llera, Baldock, Chadwick
Bournemouth: Jalal, Bartley (booked 29), Bradbury (booked 41), Goulding (Pitman 14 booked 37), Pearce, Anderton, Cummings (booked 82), Hollands, Sturrock (McQuoid 70), Guyett, Cooper
Subs: Pryce, McQuoid, Pitman, Ward, Partington
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Friday 25 May 2012
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