MK Dons picked up their second win of the season as a first-half goal saw them defeat Walsall 1-0 at Stadium MK.

Callum Hendry’s first half goal was the match-winner, as the Dons picked up back-to-back home wins in League Two.

The result saw Mike Williamson’s side bounce back from a disappointing defeat by Salford on Monday as they prepare for a big test next weekend away at rivals AFC Wimbledon.

MK Dons arrived in the game on the back of winning just one of their four League Two games and earning criticism from player-turned-manager-turned-pundit Roy Keane for their play at Salford.

Mike Williamson’s side welcomed a Walsall side who had won three of their opening four, with the Dons boss opting to Tommy Leigh his first league start as they sought a strong result against a side they beat 5-0 at home at Easter.

The opening stages saw MK Dons have control of the ball without creating many opportunities, but when one came their way just after the opening quarter-hour mark, the Dons would take it.

Playing out from the back, the home side worked the ball down their right hand side. Aaron Nemane played the ball down the line for the advancing Liam Kelly, whose inviting ball found Hendry to tap home at the back post.

Hendry’s goal was his second in as many games at Stadium MK, but the lead it gave the Dons was nearly a fleeting one. Walsall won the ball high-up and from a Jamie Jellis cross, Jack Earing met the ball and saw a shot well stopped by Dons keeper Tom McGill.

Most of the rest of the first half would see MK Dons on the front foot. Alex Gilbey saw a strike kept out by Walsall goalkeeper Sam Hornby, before Aaron Nemane had a shot deflected just wide.

MK Dons still had further chances late in the half, with Nemane seeing an effort land inches wide of the mark after breaking through before Joe Tomlinson had a strike blocked.

Walsall attempted to recalibrate with a double substitution at half-time, with substitute Reyes Cleary having a strike blocked just after coming on before Earing later had a strike fly over the bar.

Meanwhile, the Dons’ momentum wasn’t helped by knocks to both Laurence Maguire and Nemane, with both having to leave the field of play.

Maguire saw a header bounce just wide a few moments before leaving the field, before Nemane’s replacement Stephen Wearne saw a shot go straight at Hornby.

Gilbey would see a shot go wide via a deflection and although Walsall had some forward momentum, the best they produced would see a strike deflected just wide.

Jellis would see the ball pinched off his toes by McGill while a corner narrowly failed to find Walsall sub Jamille Matt, but true chances were proving hard to come by for the Saddlers.

MK Dons nearly wrapped up the points in the final minutes of the 90 when Gilbey saw a strike kept out by Hornby after a fast break by the home side.

With multiple injury stoppages and change breaks, the officials signalled for 8 minutes of stoppage time at the end of the game, but MK Dons kept Walsall at arms length to get the job done and win.

MK Dons: McGill – Tripp, Offord, Maguire (Tucker 65) – Nemane (Wearne 59), Lemonheigh-Evans, Kelly (MJ Williams 82), Tomlinson – Leigh (Thompson-Sommers 65), Hendry (Dennis 82), Gilbey

Subs not used: Harness, Harrison

Goal: Hendry (18)

Booked: Hendry

Walsall: Hornby – H. Williams, Okagbue, Allen – Barrett (Adomah 73), Hall (Cleary 45), Stirk, Weir (Lakin 45) – Jellis (Johnson 82), Earing – Lowe (Matt 73)

Subs not used: Barrett, Maher

Booked: Weir, Jellis