Milton Keynes Dons are still searching for their first league win of the season after a 1-1 draw with Peterborough United. Aaron Collins' first-half strike was cancelled out by a Chris Conn-Clarke goal with five minutes remaining, extending the Dons' winless run to seven matches.
Paul Warne's side now sit 20th in the standings with just five points from their opening six games. The result at Stadium MK on Saturday was their fifth draw of the campaign, leaving them outside the relegation places only on goal difference, which stands at minus 9.
Warne handed a first start to goalkeeper Will Dennis, who joined from AFC Bournemouth on the penultimate day of the summer transfer window. The new signing's debut was almost marred by an early error when he rushed out and failed to intercept Owura Edwards after just ten minutes.
Collins gave the hosts the lead after 29 minutes, finishing a move that began with a short throw-in from Callum Paterson. Sam Nombe had threatened earlier, forcing a save after only three minutes.
Peterborough head coach Luke Williams made a triple substitution five minutes into the second half and later introduced three strikers in a fourth change. The pressure told late on when Conn-Clarke met a deep cross to level the scores.
Dan Crowley had a golden chance to restore the Dons' lead with twenty minutes left, but he blazed a one-on-one opportunity over the bar. Edwards then struck the post for the visitors before Conn-Clarke's decisive intervention.
"The hope is there, but the defensive inability to keep clean sheets is clearly what is holding us back," Warne said afterwards. His team have conceded 14 goals in seven league games, averaging two per match. A deeper look at the team's stats reveals they have scored 9 goals, averaging 1.29 per game.
A goalless draw against Leicester City earlier in the season remains their only shutout, an outlier in a pattern of costly errors. They have used four different centre-backs and multiple wing-backs already as Warne searches for his best combination from his squad.
With 40 games still to play, the immediate focus turns to Thursday's trip to face AFC Wimbledon, who are seventh.
The Dons' recent form shows four draws and one defeat in their last five outings. Their next match at Plough Lane offers another chance to turn promising performances into a much-needed victory.
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