League One: Blackpool 2-0 MK Dons

A lacklustre MK Dons turned in a dank second-half showing against an out-of-form Blackpool side to lose 2-0 at Bloomfield Road.

After having the better of the chances in the first-half, including an Eli Campbell opportunity missed from less than a yard out, Dons slumped after the break. It still took a slice of luck when Karoy Anderson’s cross flew in midway through the second-half, before Dale Taylor’s goal 12 minutes from time put the game to bed.

The result sees Dons drop back down to 20th in League One.

After picking up their first win of the season on Saturday against Luton Town, Dons went unchanged for the trip to Blackpool. It meant back-to-back starts for Jack Sanders and Sam Silvera, while Charlton loanee Ibrahim Fullah continued in the centre of the park.

Buoyed by that win, Dons looked to take the game by the horns early on. Blackpool, with just a point from their last six games heading into the clash, had the home fans quickly on their backs with every misplaced pass, though the visitors were hard pushed to capitalise.

Aaron Collins, Ryan Wintle and Alex Gilbey all blasted efforts well over the bar, while Eli Campbell somehow failed to convert from practically on the goal-line after Sam Silvera’s fierce cross hit the inside of the post and cannoned off the Everton loanee.

The hosts had a couple of half-chances of note, with Ilmari Niskanen’s header parried by Will Dennis, while George Honeyman drew a save from the Dons keeper after the backline were caught napping, leaving the Seasiders’ skipper unmarked on the edge of the box.

Those missed opportunities would weigh heavy on Dons in the second-half as they laboured and stumbled in front of goal. Collins’ radar let him down as he fired a couple of efforts a long way off target, leaving keeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell untested for much of the night.

Blackpool did not look much like troubling Dennis at the other end though, but a huge slice of luck saw them take the lead midway through the second-half when a miscued Karoy Anderson cross deceived the Dons keeper to sail in.

Faced with the challenge of getting back into it though, Dons crumbled. Passes went awry, clearances were hacked at and opportunities began to dry up as substitutions failed to make a mark.

Blackpool put a bow on the result with 12 minutes to go when substitute Dale Taylor lashed home from just inside the box after more rushed Dons defending, leaving them 20th in the table.

Referee: James Robinson

Attendance: 8,104

Blackpool: Peacock-Farrell, Ashworth, Casey, Morgan, Honeyman (Clarkson 46), Bowler, Yates (Taylor 67), Bloxham (Charles 67), Anderson (Brown 89), Niskanen (Munroe 78), Williams

Subs not used: Lyons, Coulson

MK Dons: Dennis, Campbell (Bramall 78), Sanders, Ekpiteta (Crowley 78), Goode, Silvera (Jones 8), Wintle (Barlaser 78), Gilbey, Fullah (Wiles 61), Collins, Nombe

Subs: Stacey, Matete

Booked: Bloxham, Casey, Morgan