Milton Keynes Dons secured a 4-1 victory over Crawley Town in their EFL Trophy opener on Tuesday night, with manager Paul Warne highlighting the performance of teenage loanee Ibby Fullah. The win at Stadium MK, in front of 1,145 spectators, offered a bright spot for a side sitting 22nd in League One with just six points from seven games.
Warne made nine changes to his side from the previous league outing, handing first starts of the season to Jay Matete and Rushian Hepburn-Murphy, and a full debut to Charlton Athletic loanee Fullah. The Dons led 2-0 at the break through goals from Ben Wiles and Jack Sanders, with Elijah Campbell adding his first for the club and Hepburn-Murphy converting a penalty after the interval. Nathan Tinsdale netted a late consolation for the visitors.
Warne's praise for Fullah
Warne reserved special praise for 19-year-old Fullah, who joined on transfer deadline day and had made a brief substitute debut days earlier against AFC Wimbledon. "In the first 20 minutes, he was our diamond in the rough wasn’t he," Warne said. The manager noted the forward's stamina and constant threat, adding, "I thought he was really good and he got better as the game went on." Fullah challenged Crawley goalkeeper Jackson Izquierdo during the match but did not get on the scoresheet himself.
Context and next steps
The comprehensive win provides a morale boost as the team prepares for its next League One fixture against Bromley at Stadium MK. Currently positioned in the relegation zone, the Dons' recent form shows one win, three draws and one loss from their last five matches across all competitions. The squad will now turn its attention to the next Trophy group game against Brentford's under-21s. Check the latest standings for the updated League One table.
More detail at miltonkeynes.co.uk
