Paul Mitchell came on for the Dons eight minutes into the second half to set up a goal for John-Paul McGovern before Stuart Nicholson was sent on to equalise for Rovers. Dons let it be known they don't do draws - this was only their second in 16 matches - but the visitors were happy with this one. After a futile first half, Dons manager Martin Allen won the first tactical battle when he pulled off Jude Stirling which was a surprise switch as he had been worrying Rovers both with his pace and his speciality long throws. But Mitchell was under orders to get in on goal and did just that and with his first run took the ball inside the box and found McGovern to unleash a right-footed drive from 12 yards. The equaliser followed a long ball out of defence by Rovers centre-back Steve Elliott. It was chased down by Nicholson and his angled cross-shot from the right just eluded Paul Butler on the line. While the Dons were looking for a tenth away win, the home side were needing to plug a leaking defence which had let in eight goals in three games. If they needed an early wake up call it came from Aaron Wilbraham after just two minutes when he put Stirling through on his right. There wasn't a tackle in sight and the shot was confident enough but too straight and deflected away off Steve Phillips' legs as he came out to narrow the angle. Dead ball specialist Dean Lewington then nearly caught the Rovers keeper out with a free-kick punted around the wall but Phillips soon got his own back. Lewington took a corner on the right leaving his left-back berth unguarded. Phillips slung a long clearance into the gap and almost ambushed the Dons with a goal as Richard Walker broke away to hit the outside of the far post. Dons should still have gone in with a half-time lead when a terrible back pass by Aaron Lescott put Wilbraham in but he let Rovers escape with a corner. |
MK miss opportunity
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