Frustrating Dons held by Barrow on Good Friday

A frustrating MK Dons were held to a 0-0 draw by lowly Barrow as they missed the chance to gain ground on leaders Bromley in the League Two title race on Good Friday.

Ben Wiles hit the post in the first-half and Joe Tomlinson forced a good save deep into stoppage time at the end of the game which Dons entirely controlled, but failed to fire in the final third.

With Cambridge and Swindon drawing on Thursday, and leaders Bromley needing a 101st minute equaliser against ten-man Barnet, it was a real opportunity wasted for Paul Warne’s side ahead of their trip to Oldham on Easter Monday.

After being missing since Valentine’s Day, Callum Paterson returned from injury and went straight back into the starting line-up to face struggling Barrow as part of two changes to the side following the defeat to Salford City. Luke Offord was beginning his four-game suspension after his red card at the Peninsula Stadium, with Jack Sanders coming into the defence in his place, while Dan Crowley dropped to the bench.

Needing a win to get their promotion push back on track after consecutive defeats, Dons knew early goals against lowly Barrow would get them a huge boost, but in the first-half, they did everything but score.

Dominating the ball and the territory, the hosts controlled the flow and tempo of the opening half, but were just unable to get the ball over the line.

Jon Mellish had a header well blocked, Alex Gilbey was denied by a last-ditch challenge by ex-Dons midfielder MJ Williams, and Aaron Collins had a great chance to open the scoring after Liam Kelly’s interception, but fired straight at keeper Wyll Stanway.

Their best opportunity though came in the final few minutes of the half when Ben Wiles wandered to the edge of the box and picked his spot but saw his effort come back off the post.

Despite a shaky start to the second-half, Dons continued where they left off in the first as they piled on the pressure, but their quality in the final third would be desperately lacking.

Dons’ crossing was abysmal all afternoon as chance after chance went begging, be it boomed over the head of Paterson or simply not capable of reaching him.

The Scot, making his first appearance since Valentine’s Day, took a blow to the nose for his troubles, but it was quickly turning into one of those days for the home side.

Despite a lot of huff and puff, they struggled to give keeper Stanway a save to make until deep into stoppage time when substitute Joe Tomlinson forced him into an acrobatic denial as the visitors clung on for a point.

Referee: Martin Woods

Attendance: 7,503 (206)

MK Dons: MacGillivray, Sanders, Nelson, Ekpiteta (Tomlinson 78), Mellish (Nemane 46), Jones, Kelly (Crowley 78), Gilbey, Wiles (Hepburn-Murphy 90), Collins, Paterson (Mendez-Laing 78)

Subs not used: Trueman, Hogan

Barrow: Stanway, MacDonald, Shipley, Williams, Canavan, Jackson, Earing (Smith 7), Mahoney (McCann 60), Gordon (Walker 81), Rose (Malcolm 81), Harper

Subs not used: Winterbottom, Whitfield

Booked:Williams, Sanders, Jackson, Shipley, Crowley