Clinical Doncaster take their chance as Dons lose at home

MK Dons were made to pay for their missed chances as Doncaster Rovers snatched a 1-0 win at Stadium MK on Saturday.

The hosts looked in total control in the first half, with Alex Gilbey, Carlton Morris and Rhys Healey all catching sight of goal but squandering their opportunities. And though they could have been high and dry at the break, they were made to pay when Jacob Ramsey fired past Lee Nicholls on 66 minutes to secure the points for Doncaster.

Though they do not drop from 18th in the table, Tranmere's win over Accrington means the gap between Dons and the relegation zone is reduced to eight points.

After the 1-1 draw at Rotherham, Russell Martin welcomed back Dean Lewington after the birth of his daughter last week and Carlton Morris from suspension, and David Kasumu also came into the side. Sam Nombe missed out through illness, while Joe Walsh and Regan Poole dropped to the bench. Devante Cole, who won promotion with MK Dons in 2015, started up front for Doncaster.

The opening 25 minutes was one-way traffic as Dons set out their stall. Alex Gilbey had two terrific chances in the opening 10 minutes but missed the target with both, though Carlton Morris and Rhys Healey both tested keeper Seny Dieng as they sought out the opener.

Kasumu was playing a key role in the midfield and a part of every good move Dons put together, and he helped tee up Healey to fire over the top as the chances kept on coming.

After a brilliant solo effort last week against Rotherham, Healey had the beating of Danny Amos and took on the whole Doncaster defence on more than one occasion, only narrowly missing the target with one excellent move after a fine diagonal ball from Morris.

Dons were made to rue those missed chances in the first half though as Doncaster capitalised on their bright start to the second period, with Jacob Ramsey firing in Jon Taylor's cross after 66 minutes.

With the wind in their sails, Doncaster should have doubled their lead when Sadlier had two bites of the cherry, forcing two good saves from Nicholls as the keeper kept his side in it.

At the other end though, the front line faltered. The free-flowing football of the first half did not come out in the second. Dieng was never really called into action for the visitors, but denied substitute Joe Mason a dramatic stoppage time equaliser when he got on the end of Ben Gladwin's deft lob over the top.

Referee: Carl Boyeson

Attendance: 7,880

MK Dons: Nicholls, Lewington, Moore-Taylor (Reeves 86), Williams, Brittain, Houghton, Kasumu (Mason 59), Thompson (Gladwin 75), Gilbey, Healey, Morris

Subs not used: Fisher, Walsh, Poole, McGrandles

Doncaster Rovers: Dieng, Halliday, Anderson, Wright, Sheaf (Gomes 71), Sadlier, Whiteman, Ramsey (Blair 87), Amos, Ennis (Taylor 55), Cole

Subs not used: Jones, Baptiste, Lokilo, Coppinger

Booked: Wright, Whiteman, Gilbey, Blair