Clinical Peterborough deliver defeat to Dons

MK Dons were put to the sword by a clinical Peterborough United side on Saturday, going down 3-0 at the Weston Homes Stadium.

Just as he did in the reverse fixture at Stadium MK a month ago, Jonson Clarke-Harris opened the scoring when he converted from close range after just seven minutes before Sammie Szmodics rounded Andrew Fisher on the half-hour to double Posh's lead.

Despite Regan Poole thumping the bar with a fierce strike just before half time, Dons barely threatened Chritsy Pym's net, and while Fisher was no busier on the whole, he was beaten for a third time with 25 minutes to go to complete the victory.

The result does little for Dons in the table, remaining 16th.

After their 2-0 win over Northampton Town in the Papas John's Trophy on Tuesday, Russell Martin made four changes to the side to face Peterborough. Back came Andrew Fisher, Ben Gladwin, Ethan Laird and Cameron Jerome, with Lee Nicholls and Joe Mason dropping to the bench, Ste Walker returned to Middlesbrough in the week and Richard Keogh was out of the squad.

The defensive reshuffle, with Regan Poole and Daniel Harvie alongside Dean Lewington in the back three looked uneasy in the opening exchanges, and Peterborough were quick to capitalise with two corners in the opening five minutes before Jonson Clarke-Harris tapped in from close range on seven minutes.

Andrew Surman, fresh from signing an extended contract in the week, limped out after 14 minutes to be replaced by Joe Mason who added a different dimension for Dons but they struggled to make many inroads. Scott Fraser and Matthew Sorinola were combining well on the left-hand side, but Jerome was often outnumbered by Peterborough's towering defence.

Their best effort came on 25 minutes when Gladwin rifled a strike just wide of the top corner via a deflection.

Peterborough remained a threat though, especially on the break and after a crunching tackle on Sorinola on the halfway line, Siriki Dembele slid in Sammie Szmodics, who rounded Andrew Fisher to double the lead on the half hour.

Unshaken by the deficit though, Dons continued to look decent in midfield, and came within inches of getting one back when Peterborough were down to 10 men – Frankie Kent receiving treatment for a head injury – when Poole thundered an effort against the bar before Fraser fired a free-kick just wide.

The second half followed a similar pattern, but it would prove to be a lesson in taking chances when they come along which would be Dons undoing. While Pym's goal-mouth was probably the busier as Dons swung in crosses from both flanks, it was with Peterborough's only real chance of the half which put the game beyond the visitors' reach. Siriki Dembele danced into the penalty area and picked out Szmodics for another routine finish from close range.

Charlie Brown was handed his debut with 13 minutes to go but could do little to alter the result as Dons suffered their first defeat in a month.

Referee: Marc Edwards

Peterborough United: Pym, Butler (Blake-Tracy 86), Beevers, Kent, Taylor, Clarke-Harris (Jones 69), Dembele (Eisa 86), Szmodics (Brown 74), Hamilton, Ward (Kanu 68), N Mason

Subs not used: Gyollai, Burrows

MK Dons: Fisher, Lewington, Poole, Laird, Harvie (Davies 77), Sorinola, Gladwin, Sorensen, Fraser, Surman (J Mason 14), Jerome (Brown 77)

Subs not used: Nicholls, Williams, O'Hora