Harvie fires Dons to a fourth successive victory

Daniel Harvie's second-half strike fired Dons to their fourth win in a row as they beat Doncaster Rovers 1-0 at Stadium MK to move within three points of the play-offs.

The Scot had hit the post in the first half, while Will Grigg twice forced keeper Louis Jones into decent saves too. Harvie's goal came with 14 minutes to go, firing in from 20-yards with a slight deflection on the effort to beat the keeper.

Vitally it was a clean sheet too for Russell Martin's side for the first time since early February as they moved into 12th spot.

After naming the same side for four games in a row, Dons made three changes for the visit of Doncaster Rovers. Captain Dean Lewington was the most notable omission as he dropped to the bench to allow Zak Jules his first opportunity to play at centre-back since signing from Walsall in February. Will Grigg replaced Cameron Jerome up front and Daniel Harvie came in for Ethan Laird, with the duo on the bench.

Not a great spectacle in the opening 45 minutes, but Dons were by far the better team in the first half, simply unable to pick out the back of the net.

They had to be patient for chances though, none were really forthcoming until 28 minutes when Grigg forced a good save from Louis Jones in the Doncaster net, before Zak Jules skidded an effort wide.

Despite being well in control though and not looking in any real danger from the visitors, Scott Fraser was substituted just after those efforts though, replaced by Louis Thompson, and he vented his frustration when he threw his water bottle across the empty stand behind the dugout.

Daniel Harvie began to get more involved in the play as Dons put more of their mark on the game, and the wing-back first thought he'd won a penalty when his cross struck a Doncaster arm, before he then cut inside onto his left foot and fired an effort on goal which hit the inside of the post. He'd get his reward later.

The second half almost started with a bang when Thompson drove forwards and forced Jones into another fingertip save, but it was a more balanced affair for the most part.

Grigg once again came close when he got a toe to Matt O'Riley's cross, while Doncaster's only real effort came when Jason Lokilo got two bites of the cherry but couldn't convert with either.

Harvie, switching to the left-flank, would them break the deadlock with 14 minutes to go. Cutting onto his right foot, he hit a fierce effort on goal which took a deflection off a Doncaster leg just in front of Jones, leaving the keeper with no chance.

Having defended brilliantly throughout, Dons' back line deserved a clean-sheet and but for a few half-chances for Rovers, never really looked in danger of conceding as they claimed their first clean sheet since early February and the 1-0 win over Hull City.

Referee: Josh Smith

MK Dons: Fisher, Jules, Darling, O'Hora, Sorinola (Laird 67), Harvie, McEachran, Surman, O'Riley, Fraser (Thompson 29), Grigg (Brown 83)

Subs not used: Nicholls, Lewington, Mason

Doncaster Rovers: Jones, Halliday, James, Anderson, Wright (John 80), Bogle, Lokilo, Bostock (Gomes 80), Richards, Coppinger (Okenabirhie 64), Horton (Robertson 80)

Subs not used: Balcombe, Amos, John, Greaves

Booked: Thompson