Dons make up for disastrous start to win fourth in a row against Swindon

MK Dons made up for a disastrous start to win 3-1 against Swindon Town to climb into the League Two play-off spots on Saturday.

Trailing after just 17 seconds to Harry Smith’s header, Dons had to wait until the stroke of half-time to draw level when the excellent Kane Thompson-Sommers fired in an equaliser.

Second-half goals from MJ Williams and Alex Gilbey would complete the turnaround as Dons went on to claim a fourth league win in a row, and with it climb to sixth spot.

After the FA Cup loss to AFC Wimbledon, Scott Lindsey made five changes to the side to take on Swindon Town. Goalkeeper Tom McGill, Laurence Maguire, MJ Williams, Joe White and Stephen Wearne all came back into the fold ahead of Craig MacGillivray, Dean Lewington and Tommy Leigh. Connor Lemonheigh-Evans was suspended for the game and Sam Sherring was out of the squad.

Looking to make it four wins in a row in the league, Dons could not have made a worse start, conceding inside the opening 20 seconds. Swindon skipper Ollie Clarke picked up the loose ball in midfield, release Aaron Drinan down the right and his cross was headed home by giant striker Harry Smith.

An immediate spanner in the plans for the hosts, they were quickly back on the front foot against the side which started the day in 22nd place. Joe Tomlinson and Alex Gilbey both had early sights of goal, while Kane Thompson-Sommers too fired one just over the top as Dons looked to get back on level terms.

Aaron Nemane was proving a real thorn in the side for Swindon, as he had plenty of joy against Rosaire Longelo, teeing up Scott Hogan too for a shot on the turn, but keeper Jack Bycroft was a match for it.

It looked as though half-time would come at the wrong time for Dons, with Gilbey and Tomlinson forcing Bycroft into saves in stoppage time, but just as they conceded at the start of the half, Dons would equalise at the death of it.

A quickly taken corner from Laurence Maguire came out to Wearne to cross, and while Hogan's effort on the spin was punched clear, Thompson-Sommers lashed it home to draw Dons level.

They would go on to complete their turnaround in the second-half, but not before Hogan an Gilbey conspired to miss a sitter for the hosts not long after the restart. Breaking clear and through on goal, Hogan looked for all the world as though he would roll the ball home but instead he squared to his captain, who looked like he was caught by surprise, and a brilliant recovery from Tunmise Sobowale denied Dons the lead.

While that was a great move, it was a far more industrial finish which did eventually see Dons take the lead on 57 minutes. Tomlinson's corner found Maguire at the far post, though his header came back off the post, MJ Williams thrashed the ball goalwards, taking a few hits en route into the roof of the net.

Gilbey would make up for his earlier miss though as he finished off a brilliant move on 64 minutes, heading home a pin-point cross from Nemane to further extend their advantage.

With Dons' third came the end of Swindon's resolve. Though they would threaten at times - Paul Glatzel's brilliant volley on the turn fizzing just over the bar as close as they could come to getting a life-line.

Referee: Sunny Gill

Attendance: 7,407 (1,292)

MK Dons: McGill, Williams, Offord, Maguire, Nemane (Pritchard 84), Tomlinson, Thompson-Sommers, Wearne (Hendry 57), White, Gilbey, Hogan

Subs not used: MacGillivray, Lewington, Tucker, Harrison, Leigh

Swindon Town: Bycroft, Sobowale, Delaney (Cotterill 78), Wright, Clarke, Longelo (Glatzel 70), Kilkenny, Tshimanga, Butterworth (McGregor 46), Drinan (Ofoborh 78), Smith (McGurk 70)

Subs not used: Barden, Ofoborgh, Minturn

Booked: Smith, Hendry