MK Dons 3 Doncaster 0: Rovers unable to stretch their lead at top of table

Rovers struggled in the first half as Karl Robinson’s men ran rings around them in midfield, coming closest to opening the scoring when Dean Bowditch’s free kick hit the upright on the half hour.

An injury to the influential Luke Chadwick 10 minutes before the break turned out to be a blessing for the home side as substitute Izale McLeod netted his first goal for the club since his return, tapping home from six yards out.

The Dons continued to take the game to the visitors, so it was no surprise when they extended their lead 11 minutes after the restart – Daniel Powell sending home a rocket from the edge of the box after Doncaster failed to clear their lines, leaving Gary Woods with no chance.

There was more good news for Dons too as Stephen Gleeson made his return to action with eight minutes remaining and scored with only his second touch.

McLeod nodded down Powell’s cross to the Irish midfielder lurking on the edge of the box and his low, hard drive darted into the bottom corner.

MK Dons: McLoughlin, Lewington, Kay, Williams, Chicksen, Potter, Lines, Powell, Chadwick (McLeod 36), Bowditch (Doumbe 74), Lowe (Gleeson 82). Unused substitutes: Flanagan, Baldock, Rasulo.

Doncaster Rovers: Woods, Quinn, Husband (Bennett 63), Jones (Griffin 46), Hume (Paynter 57), Harper, Cotterill, Lundstram, Spurr, McCombe, Coppinger. Unused substitutes: Maxted, Wakefield, Sinclair, Howieson.

Referee: K Stroud.