Poorer Opposition, Better Result

When you’ve been thumped 6-0 the game before you want to put something on the board less unpalatable and some distance from the previous game. We did just about manage that, against poor opposition (but a team which had been unbeaten in a while, had posted some decent results of late, and still needed points to end relegation fears), on the back of a much improved second-half performance (which followed a cautious, low-key – OK dull - first-half, with most entertainment provided by a series of weird decisions by the ref). Indeed, for a period of time after we took the lead we could well have put the game to bed as MK Dons’ heads dropped, before several changes and them throwing caution to the wind meant some desperate defending at the last to hold onto the points.

The team showed a couple of enforced changes, plus a couple more for different reasons. With Inniss suspended and Campbell apparently picking up a niggle. Holden’s choice was to stick with the formation, bringing Thomas into the centre alongside Hector, helped by the return of Clare at right-back, with Sessegnon replacing Egbo on the left side. Midfield was unchanged while Payne, available again after his suspension, came in to play on the left, Rak-Sakyi on the right, while Leaburn returned in place of Bonne, whose post-Ipswich social media actions saw him excluded from the squad.

Family commitments meant I actually missed the first 20 minutes. But from the sound of it, and from what followed until the break, I didn’t miss much. Perhaps it was understandable that after Saturday and with a reshaped back four we focused on keeping things tight, seldom venturing forward in numbers, while MK Dons buzzed around but generally to little effect. What was missing included any sense of high tempo or precision in passing. We had no attempts on target in the first half (and just two in total) and the only moment of note I can recall was on the half-hour Clare and Morgan combining down the right and Morgan’s cross finding Fraser in a good spot but unable to bring the ball down or make decisive contact. That we made it to half-time all square was then down to Maynard-Brewer, who managed to get a touch on a powerful drive from the edge of the box from Leko (who we remember well and who apparently signed for MK Dons in the January window) to deflect the ball onto the post and behind.

And early in the second half we were again indebted to Maynard-Brewer, although this time his save was fairly routine. Some comical defending on our right side allowed their guy to dance down the wing and put in a decent cross, which found another in space inside the box. The volley was turned aside for another corner (and MK Dons did have plenty of them).

Increasingly you felt that one goal would probably win it and early in the second half that did not look like us. But rather out of the blue, before the hour mark, Sessegnon cut inside and unleashed a powerful, swerving drive. Not as dramatic as his recent goal, but enough to unsettle their keeper and seemingly give us a reminder that we were allowed to attempt to score and that we were not up against a team like Ipswich. Shortly after Leaburn, who had been generally out of the game, managed to wriggle through to get off a shot palmed away for a corner. And from that we did take the lead, the ball played back then forward to Rak-Sakyi, who laid off a good pass into the path of Payne in space inside the box. He was able to curl it around their keeper and into the net.

For the next 20 minutes or so it was really all us, aside from a Leko run which Dobson ended at the cost of another yellow card. Morgan found Rak-Sakyi at the near post but his flick went just wide, a low Payne cross didn’t get converted, then Sessegnon had another shot blocked. But as we seemed to tire and MK Dons made changes to chase the game, the tide turned towards the end. Egbo came on for Clare with about 15 minutes left, then after a remarkable Dobson run forward led to Rak-Sakyi curling a shot wide Kane and Kilkenney replaced Rak-Sakyi and Fraser, later Mitchell for Sessegnon. In the final minutes, including seven of stoppage time (perhaps the ref added time for his strange decisions), there was some desperate last-ditch defending and shots blocked, but nobody got through to test Maynard-Brewer again and the points were finally ours.

The win of course doesn’t compensate for Saturday, but it was the best we could expect and at least sees us back into 10th, albeit with Lincoln and Shrewsbury having a game in hand. Three to go, all against shall we say uninspiring opposition (Morecambe next up will presumably be desperate for the points but Port Vale and Cheltenham should both be on their holidays by the time we play them). I don’t think we’re really finding out anything more about the players now. With Ness, Inniss, Aneke and Blackett-Taylor all unavailable, Rak-Sakyi and other loan players set to depart (whether any return remains to be seen), and very little available in reserve (just where is Penney?), we hope I think for a dignified end to the season – and more important some news on the ownership front to give us some grounds for optimism over next season.