Dons overpower Norwich U21s with a rampant victory

A remorseless MK Dons put Norwich City's youngsters to the sword at Stadium MK on Tuesday night, hammering them 6-0 to progress into the Papa John's Trophy last 16.

Kieran Agard, making his first appearance in more than 11 months opened the scoring in the first half - the first of two goals he'd end up with - but five came Dons' way in the second. Regan Poole bagged a brace too, with Lasse Sorensen and Ste Walker also getting in on the act as Russell Martin's men put the game beyond any doubt.

After more than 11 months without a first team appearance, Kieran Agard was brought in from the cold by Russell Martin and was given a start as part of wholesale changes to his side – nine in total from Saturday's defeat to Accrington Stanley. David Kasumu and Matthew Sorinola were the only survivors from that game as Martin rested his regulars ahead of Saturday's visit of Burton Albion.

Dons could and probably should have had the game wrapped up by the interval but went in just a goal to the good, and it came from the returning Agard. Daniel Harvie picked out the striker with a 33rd minute cross which he duly headed past Jon McCracken to give Dons the lead, but it could have been so many more.

Lasse Sorensen almost rounded the keeper a couple of minutes later but was denied by some brave Norwich defending, before Agard then headed Sorinola's cross just wide.

Ste Walker also fizzed an effort just wide of the mark, and not far from Regan Poole's last-ditch slide to poke it home as Dons had to settle for a single-goal advantage at the break.

But the floodgates flew open in the second period as Dons ran riot to well and truly put the game to bed. Sorensen got the first of five second half goals eight minutes into the second period with a wonderful strike – his first career goal – from just inside the penalty area before a bullet header from Poole made it 3-0 three minutes later.

Ste Walker made it 4-0 on 68 minutes with a terrific effort, skipping past two Norwich defenders to thrash it past Jon McCracken, while Agard and Poole both added to their tallies before the end.

Referee: Will Finnie

MK Dons: Nicholls, Williams (Davies 69) Cargill, Poole, Sorinola, Harvie, Kasumu (Surman 57), Sorensen, Freeman (Johnson 72), Agard, S Walker

Subs not used: L Walker, Keogh, Jerome, Johnson, Smith

Norwich City U21s: McCracken, Dronfield, Giurgi (Kamara 79), McAlear, Tomkinson, Vaughan, Dennis (Stewart 69), Hondermarck (Springett 72), Nizey, Dickson-Peters, Khumbeni

Subs not used: Jackson, Rowe, Kamara, Shipley, Hills

Booked: Poole