Cargill earns Dons a point in League One opener

A brilliant Baily Cargill goal rescued MK Dons a point away at Doncaster Rovers on the opening day of the season as the sides shared a 1-1 draw.

Sam Nombe missed an open goal in the first half as Dons controlled the tempo, but were caught out by a Madger Gomes strike nine minutes into the second period as Doncaster led against the run of play.

And it appeared as though Dons would struggle to get back into it until Cargill's excellent one-touch pass-and-move saw him coolly slot home with two minutes to go to earn his side a point.

After the midweek EFL Trophy triumph over Northampton, Russell Martin made three changes to the side, bringing back Lee Nicholls and Carlton Morris, while handing Daniel Harvie his competitive debut after returning from international duty. Wednesday's signing Scott Fraser did not travel with the team having not completed a pre-season training regime.

After brushing aside Northampton in the week, Dons looked equally comfortable at the Keepmoat Stadium against a Doncaster side who dealt Dons their last defeat before Covid.

Keeper Joe Bursik, on loan at Rovers from Stoke, was certainly the busier of the two stoppers, making spectacular saves from fellow Potter Lasse Sorensen and Baily Cargill, while Carlton Morris and Regan Poole both fired just wide.

Doncaster offered precious little in the way of a threat to Dons during the opening 45 minutes, but it was from a rare corner that the visitors were afforded the chance of the half. Sam Nombe broke clear of the defence on half way and went one-on-one with Bursik, but after rounding the keeper, his effort was somehow put wide of the mark by the recovering Taylor Richards.

And half time came at the wrong time for Dons as their momentum was stunted after the restart and just nine minutes into the second period, they were trailing. A deep Jon Taylor cross looked to be going out of play on the opposite flank but was kept alive by the excellent Rayhaan Tulloch, who in turn fed Madger Gomes to bend a strike past Nicholls.

Dons struggled to get going again after the goal as Doncaster almost welcomed them to take the ball and break them down.

Throwing on Callum Brittain, Joe Mason and Matthew Sorinola changed Dons' fortunes though as they began to get on top again, but it was a sensational team move which saw them snatch a late but deserved point.

Baily Cargill, who had threatened goals against Coventry last week, rounded out brilliant team and indeed solo effort, playing one-touch passes with Kasumu and Morris as he coolly curled home the equaliser with two minutes to go.

He could have won it, as indeed could Carlton Morris with stoppage time headers but it was not to be as Dons had to settle for a point.

Doncaster Rovers: Bursik, Halliday, James, Anderson, Wright, Gomes, Tulloch (Lokilo 75), Whiteman, Taylor (Williams 86), Richard, John-Jules (Okenabirhire 78)

Subs not used: Jones, Amos, Williams, John, Coppinger

MK Dons: Nicholls, Lewington, O'Hora, Cargill, Poole, Harvie (Sorinola 75), Houghton, Kasumu, Sorensen (Brittain 69), Nombe (Mason 69), Morris

Subs not used: Walker, Freeman, Jallow, Black

Booked: Houghton, Richards, Whiteman