Late goals the difference between Dons and automatic promotion places

Stoppage time moments in the last two league games are the difference between MK Dons and the automatic promotion spots.

Goals conceded against both Colchester and Chesterfield in the first two League Two games of 2026 have denied Paul Warne’s side three points, the difference between fifth place and third.

“If we’d have picked up those extra three points from the last two games, we’re sat here looking at the table differently,” said Connor Lemonheigh-Ecans. “That’s football. We didn’t see out the games against Colchester and Chesterfield, and we know what we have to do now.

“When you look at our league position, we’re not where we want to be, but we’re just over half-way and there are still a lot of games to lay and a lot of points to pick up.

“We’re not in a terrible position, so it’s shaping up to be a really good finish. We’ve got to work hard to get as many wins as we can to finish where we want to finish.”

Return from injury

The Welshman spent, like many of his team-mates this season, three months out of the side through injury. A suspected fracture to his leg kept him out of the side from September until December, returning just before the hectic Christmas schedule.

Thrust straight back into the action, the 28-year-old has played in various positions in Warne’s system, and has been a stand-out in the head coach’s eyes in a few of his games back.

“I’m all-action, I guess!” said the former Stockport County man. “The gaffer likes players who can run, it’s part of my game. I’ve always been like that, it’s a part of my game. I work hard, get stuck in and try to bring quality when I can.

“It’s nice to be back. No-one wants to be injured, no-one wants to be out. I came back during the Christmas period where there were a lot of games so I managed to get minutes under my belt. It was annoying to be out but that’s part of the game.”