League Two: MK Dons 2-0 Salford City

Stoppage time goals in each half ensured MK Dons were 2-0 winners over promotion chasing Salford City at Stadium MK.

In a game where the hosts looked distinctly second-best all afternoon, Nathaniel Mendez-Laing netted a penalty in first-half stoppage time after Jack Sanders was downed, before Callum Paterson added a second right at the end to move Paul Warne’s into the automatic promotion spots.

After missing three games with a head injury, goalkeeper Craig MacGillivray returned between the sticks as one of three changes to the side to face Salford City. Joe Tomlinson came in for Jon Mellish after the Wigan loanee had a torrid time at Barnet last weekend, while Callum Paterson returned to the front-line as Will Collar dropped to the bench.

It was nearly a dreadful start for MacGillivray too as he spilled Matt Butcher’s effort after just five minutes into the path of striker Kelly N’Mai, but somehow the striker lifted the ball onto the crossbar when scoring looked easier.

If the opening 15 minutes went in favour of the visitors, the second firmly went the way of the home side as they began to settle into the action. Rushian Hepburn-Murphy started to stretch his legs, and nearly found his way through on a couple of occasions, while Liam Kelly opted not to shoot when he jinked his way into the area.

Hepburn-Murphy would limp out just before half-time though, not long after seeing his cross narrowly miss Nathanial Mendez-Laing and Callum Paterson, replaced by Will Collar.

The stoppage while he got treatment meant six minutes of stoppage time, and it was in that added on time when Jack Sanders was downed in the box, allowing Mendez-Laing to coolly roll home the opener.

The second-half would be backs-to-the-wall for the home side as they barely got control of the game. Salford looked intent on going after the equaliser, but with little keeping the ball at the sharp end, Dons’ defence simply saw the ball coming back their way.

Kallum Cesay had the best chance of the game to draw Salford level but drew a brilliant reaction save from MacGillivray.

Their pressure looked soon to tell, but as the game crept into injury time, a rare break into the opposition half saw Gilbey square to Paterson to lift in his fifth of the season to secure the points.

Referee: Ross Joyce

Attendance: 8,309 (163)

MK Dons: MacGillivray, Offord, Sanders, Ekpiteta, Tomlinson (Mellish 78), Nemane, Gilbey, Kelly (Crowley 78_, Hepburn-Murphy (Collar 44), Mendez-Laing (Thompson-Sommers 59), Paterson

Subs not used: Trueman, Maguire, Leko

Salford City: Young, Turton (siri 90), Nmai, Harris, Cooper (Grant 66), Austerfield (Stockton 66), Butcher, Cesay (Longelo 79), Olowu, Udoh, Garbutt

Sub not used: Howard, Curran-Nicholls, Butt,

Booked: Sanders, Paterson