MK Dons 2 Bradford City 0: Bantams knocked out of Cup by Afobe double

Unfortunately so for Bradford City, who seven days on from beating Milton Keynes Dons in league combat at stadium:mk were last night dumped out of the Capital One Cup at the same venue.

A goal in each half from Benik Afobe was enough to exact revenge for Karl Robinson’s men and dash any hopes of the Bantams enjoying an extended run similar to two years ago when the Yorkshire club made history by reaching the final.

The final result wasn’t the only major contrast to the previous Tuesday, either, with Bradford not possessing the clinical finishing that had brought three valuable points.

City had plenty of the ball. But, apart from a late rally that finally saw David Martin called on to make a save in the home goal to deny Jason Kennedy, the visitors lacked the attacking conviction that had been so evident in the League One tussle that had seen Aaron Mclean and Billy Clarke net the all-important goals in a 2-1 triumph.

That allowed the Dons, despite being far from at their best, to dictate play and create by far the better openings in front of a disappointingly low crowd of 5,707.

After the electric atmospheres that had been produced for City’s victory over Leeds in the previous round and the Dons’ stunning 4-0 thumping of Manchester United, such a low turnout ensured the contrast with those two stirring tussles could not have been more marked.

Credit, therefore must go to the Dons for their explosive start with it taking Afobe less than five minutes to take the lead.

After six loan moves – including stays at Huddersfield Town and Sheffield Wednesday – in five years, the Arsenal striker must be desperate to lay down some roots. City actually tried to sign Afobe last season, but he opted for the Owls.

Well, on last night’s evidence, this footballing nomad seems to have found surroundings that suit with the double that sunk City taking his tally to eight in 11 appearances for the Dons.

The clinical manner of Afobe’s first strike pointed to someone who is full of confidence.

Collecting a drilled pass to his feet on the edge of the area, the 21-year-old used his first touch to spin clear of Rory McArdle before firing an unstoppable shot past Ben Williams in the City goal.

After suffering such an early setback, the fear was that the Bantams, so short of options due to injury and suspension that no less than five of the seven substitutes named by Phil Parkinson had never played for the first team before, were in for a long night. But it was City who came closest to finding the net.

That was just after the half hour mark when a sloppy pass out of defence by the Dons handed possession to the visitors. A couple of passes later and the ball had found Mason Bennett, who cut in from the right flank before curling a shot that flew just past Martin’s post.

Oliver McBurnie should also have done better with a header but, otherwise, despite of huffing and puffing from both teams in the opening 45 minutes, moments of genuine attacking quality were scarce with the hosts’ only other chance of note being a Ben Reeves free-kick that flew a couple of yards over the crossbar.

That changed swiftly after the restart, as Milton Keynes stepped up their efforts. First, superb play by Dean Bowditch created an opening for full-back Jordan Spence but he shot just wide.

Then, twice in quick succession, Williams kept out Afobe with fine blocks before Dele Alli, the highly-rated Dons midfielder who was recently the subject of a £3.5m bid from Liverpool, saw his effort blocked by McArdle.

City had another major let-off just after the hour when Kyle McFadzean’s drilled 25-yard shot struck the foot of the post and then the follow-up by Reeves was deflected wide.

That finally sparked Bradford into life and after Kennedy had a shot blocked by team-mate Aaron Mclean, Clarke fired just wide from 20 yards.

Clarke then had another shot deflected over by Dean Lewington before Antony Kay cleared the danger deep inside the six-yard box as Mclean waited to meet Billy Knott’s inviting cross.

Kennedy then improvised to bring a save from Martin after being picked out by Gary Liddle’s cross but it was the hosts who netted the second goal of the night four minutes from time, Afobe racing clear to score.

The game was up for City and their 572 travelling fans, who could have few complaints about their team’s four-match winning run against the Dons having come to a resounding end.

Milton Keynes Dons: Martin; Spence, Kay, McFadzean, Lewington; Alli, Potter; Bowditch (Powell 54), Reeves (Baldock 89), Carruthers (Grigg 78); Afobe. Unused substitutes: McLoughlin, Flanagan, Randall, Hitchcock.

Bradford City: Williams; Liddle, McArdle, Routis, Meredith; Morais (Webb-Foster 85), Knott, Kennedy, Bennett (Yeates 65); Clarke, McBurnie (Mclean 65). Unused substitutes: Urwin, Pollard, Wright, King.

Referee: M Russell (Hertfordshire).