Sam Nombe's late goal gave Milton Keynes Dons a vital 1-0 away victory over Stevenage on Saturday. The win moves the Dons up to 20th in League One, providing a key three points in their fight for safety. The team now has nine points from ten games, with a record of one win, six draws and three losses.
Nombe struck with nine minutes of normal time remaining, finishing a move created by Aaron Collins. The goal was the decisive moment in a tight contest where the Dons defended resolutely after taking the lead. This 1-0 result on Saturday 24 October follows a 2-0 defeat at Blackpool on Tuesday 20 October and a 2-1 home win over Luton on Saturday 17 October.
Team changes and discipline
The game was punctuated by early bookings, with Alex Gilbey shown a yellow card for a foul after just seven minutes. Jack Sanders and Aaron Collins also received cautions for the visitors in a first half where Stevenage enjoyed more of the ball.
Stevenage's Josh Magennis and Carl Piergianni were booked in the opening period as well. The home side had 60% possession but created few clear chances, registering an expected goals figure of just 0.53 compared to the Dons' 1.96.
How the match unfolded
Goalkeeper Dennis made two saves to preserve the clean sheet, a key factor in securing the win.
This result ends a run of two consecutive league defeats for Milton Keynes Dons, following losses to Blackpool and Reading. Their recent form now reads three wins and two losses from their last five matches across all competitions. The team has scored 11 goals in the league this season but conceded 18, giving them a goal difference of minus seven. They currently sit 13 points behind the league leaders, Stockport County.
The victory lifts the Dons to 20th place with nine points from ten games, one point and one place above next weekend's opponents. They now turn their attention to a home fixture against 19th-placed Doncaster Rovers on Saturday, 31 October.
