Southampton 3-1 MK Dons
Saints prove too strong for below par Dons
"We won't be overawed" was the pre-match promise from Paul Ince – but those words came back to haunt the Dons boss as his side froze at Southampton.
For the first time in a long while Dons were thoroughly outplayed as they succumbed to a 3-1 defeat at St Mary's.
In a game where the players really needed their leader on the sideline, Ince – serving the second of his two-game touchline ban – had to see his side be outplayed in every department from the stands as their three-match winning streak came crashing to a halt.
On the day the former Premier League club moved the ball around quickly and defended with strength and intelligence. And most importantly they closed down with intent and in numbers.
Alan Pardew had done his homework and never allowed Dons to settle into their passing game as they pressurised the visitors high up the pitch from the start.
The midfield were made to panic and Saints took over. They missed chance after chance in the first half before Jason Puncheon stunned the 20,000 plus crowd with 25-yard free-kick that curled past Kelvin Davis. It was Dons' first effort of the match, but it didn't dampen the home side's enthusiasm.
Saints hit back with three goals in the second half, the first a fine volley from Dean Hammond. Prolific striker Rickie Lambert then fired home from a clever short free-kick for the second and former Wimbledon ace David Connolly rounded things off late on.
Southampton remain in the bottom four of League One due to their minus 10-point start, but this was their fourth straight league victory and on that performance they could still well be play-off contenders.
Dons need to learn to be fearless at the big grounds. The performance was similar to those at Elland Road and the Walkers Stadium last season when Dons looked almost intimidated by the occasion.
It shouldn't be forgotten that Dons had won the three games previous to this and everyone has a bad day at the office. But the difference in quality on the day would have been the thing that disappointed the 1,000 strong travelling fans.
From the start Southampton were creating chances. Adam Lallana's lob was well saved by the back-pedalling Willy Gueret. Then Fiorentina loan man Papa Waigo found space down the right and crossed for Lallana who looked odds on to score only for Mathias Doumbe to pull off a magnificent sliding block.
The Senegalese front man then should have done better with a header from 10-yards out.
The visitors were like rabbits in the headlights and with lone striker Jermaine Easter fighting a losing battle against man-mountain Raidi Jaidi, they couldn't relieve the pressure.
Waigo then had the ball in the back of the net from a dangerous Lloyd James cross, but to his despair the offside flag was raised.
After that onslaught was weathered Dons did get into the game a little more. But the opener was still a surprise to everyone.
It came when Jaidi gave away a needless foul on Easter on the edge of the penalty area. Up stepped Puncheon and the rest is history.
Dons then started the second half well, but impressive substitutions from Pardew changed the game.
Michail Antonio sent over a precise back post cross which the unmarked Hammond volleyed neatly into the net. And from there Saints took over.
Lambert's clever movement allowed him to find enough space to fire home from 10-yards after James had cut back a free-kick from the byline.
And a third goal was added late on as skipper Lewington tried to keep the ball in play deep into stoppage time. But as he tried to do so his attempted pass to Gueret went straight to sub Connolly and he tapped home.
Fortunately Leeds and Charlton both dropped points and while Dons slipped a place to fourth, they didn't lose too much ground.
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Weather for Milton Keynes
Saturday 04 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -1 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: -0 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: West
