MK Dons winless in five after 1-0 Harrogate loss

    Image Credit: Milton Keynes Dons Football Club

    Milton Keynes Dons are now without a win in five matches as they succumbed to a 1-0 home loss to Harrogate Town.

    The Dons entered the match with just two points from their last four fixtures, with their last victory coming against Doncaster on 26th August, and a win desperately needed to uplift the growing tension amongst the fanbase.

    Dons had a moment to threaten the visitors in the opening two minutes when a quick throw from Joe Tomlinson picked up Ellis Harrison inside the box.

    Harrison attempted to pull the ball back for Mo Eisa, but he had already begun to run ahead of the play and the ball trickled away from danger and back towards the middle of the pitch.

    Eisa then got his first shot of the match, picking up a low pass from Tomlinson deep inside the Harrogate box. His first touch put the ball ahead of him, but he was able to turn quickly and get his strike away, forcing a good diving save from Oxley at the near post.

    Eisa put Oxley to work once again with a shot just short of the ten-minute mark. Alex Gilbey's shot from the edge of the box deflected off a defender, eventually finding the feet of Eisa, at the edge of the box. He curled a shot heading towards the far post, with Oxley diving to his left and palming the ball behind for a corner.

    Daniel Harvie then had a strike from range in the 18th minute, hitting the ball from 30+ yards out, seeing it soar perfectly towards goal only for Oxley to palm it away once again.

    The visitors had a chance of their own after half an hour, with a breakaway shot rolling tamely into Craig MacGillivray's hands despite Harvie being the only player nearby to put pressure on Folarin.

    Tomlinson had a rocket of a shot from 40 yards out, seeing his effort sail just wide of the mark.

    Miscommunication became the Dons' undoing as MacGillivray attempted to clear the ball with Odoh in hot pursuit. The clearance, however, struck Warren O'Hora from close range and rolled back behind the goalkeeper and into the open goal, gifting the visitors a 1-0 lead just minutes away from the half-time break.

    Just before the half-time whistle, Brooklyn Ilunga attempted a volley inside the box, striking the ball cleanly but seeing his effort hit Eisa in the face and deflect away from danger.

    The Dons began the second half still looking somewhat nervy from conceding the goal, with substitute Jack Tucker forced into covering a wide-open Odoh at the back once again.

    Harvie had a solid solo run ten minutes into the half, but his tame right-footed shot flew into Oxley's hands and never truly threatened. Moments later, Harvie was again involved as he took a long-range shot but saw his effort sail comfortably wide.

    The Dons continued to press their opponents, with Tomlinson sending a good cross into the box and finding the head of Eisa. Eisa couldn't guide it goalwards, seeing it bounce wide.

    Pressure continued from the home side, but they struggled to break through the visitors' defensive line and shots on goal were few and far between, with the ball spending a lot of time up in the air.

    Graham Alexander made a number of changes in the second half, trying to change his side's fortune, with attacking the goal the clear message with the likes of Max Dean, Conor Grant, and Jonathan Leko all being brought on to try and influence the game.

    It wasn't to be, though, as the Dons were unable to break down the visitors and find that crucial goal to steal back a point. Loud boos and choice words rang out at Stadium MK both during the match as well as at the full-time whistle, with the Dons now winless in five matches and seeking answers after what had been a positive start to the season.

    Back-to-back away trips await the Dons, with Walsall and Gillingham their opponents, and answers needing to be found after this difficult patch for the club.

    MK Dons Line-Up: MacGillivray, Tomlinson, O'Hora (69' Grant), Stewart (45' Tucker), Harvie, Ilunga, Payne, Gilbey, Williams (69' Leko), Eisa, Harrison (81' Dean)

    Sponsored Stories

     

    Local News

    Weather

    • Tue

      17°C

    • Wed

      15°C

    • Thu

      10°C

    • Fri

      11°C

    • Sat

      12°C