Milton Keynes Dons suffered a 3-1 defeat away to Wigan Athletic in a League One match this week. The loss leaves Paul Warne's team 23rd in the table with only three points from their opening four fixtures, a position confirmed by the latest standings.
Wigan earned their first points of the season with the victory. Jensen Weir scored twice for the Latics, with Max Power adding a third. Aaron Collins netted a late consolation for MK Dons after coming on as a substitute in the 64th minute.
What went wrong for MK Dons?
Manager Paul Warne made several changes to his starting lineup, handing first starts to defender Jack Sanders and winger Ryan Barnett. Callum Paterson also started after featuring in the midweek Carabao Cup loss to Norwich. The new-look side delivered what Warne later described as one of the worst first-half performances since he took charge. Sanders was booked during a disjointed display, and deadline day signings Ibby Fullah and Eli Campbell were not included in the matchday squad.
Warne acted at half-time, substituting Ben Wiles and the cautioned Sanders. He brought on Alex Gilbey and Marvin Ekpiteta in an attempt to change the game's momentum. The team has now scored four goals but conceded six this season, giving them a negative goal difference of two. You can view the full squad details on our dedicated squad page.
How did Wigan secure the win?
Wigan took full advantage of MK Dons' sluggish start. Weir opened the scoring and later added his second, with Power putting the game beyond doubt. Brad Burrowes made his debut for the hosts when he came on in the 74th minute. The referee for the match was Paul Howard, who booked five players in total: Ryan Burns, Jack Sanders, Alex Gilbey, Joe Costello, and Max Power.
Wigan's starting lineup featured Joe Whitworth in goal, with a defence including James Carragher and Ryan Burns. Their substitutes Ryan Walsh and Barrett were introduced in the 22nd and 66th minutes respectively, while J Walsh and Sze remained unused.
What is the context of MK Dons' season?
The defeat is a significant setback in the early season. MK Dons currently sit seven points behind league leaders Huddersfield Town. Their form reads LDDD from four games, highlighting a struggle to turn performances into wins. This match report was first published by the Milton Keynes Citizen.
Attention now turns to halting this poor run. The next opportunity comes at home against Bromley on September 26th. Bromley are currently 19th in League One, making it a key fixture for both sides. Fans can check the date and time for that match on the club's fixtures list.
