Scott Lindsey suffered a first defeat as MK Dons boss as they were beaten 1-0 by Port Vale at Stadium MK.

Substitute Antwoine Hackford scored the only goal of the game in the final quarter of an hour as Port Vale took a win that put the visitors top of the table after 11 games of the campaign.

MK Dons had two goals disallowed in the first half but a slower second half saw them cone unstuck against their high-flying guests from Staffordshire, in a result that sees them sit 15th in the League Two table. After 11 games, they are six points behind the top six.

The match at Stadium MK represented a test for the Dons. While they entered it unbeaten in their previous 4 league games, they had drawn three of those and were up against a Port Vale side whose strong recent form had seen them rise up to 6th in the table and win Darren Moore September’s Manager of the Month prize.

The game was an emotional one at Stadium MK as multiple tributes were paid in honour of George Baldock after the week’s tragic news that the 31-year-old former MK Dons player had passed away.

A minute’s silence was held before the game, while both sides wore black armbands and several of Baldock’s former MK Dons team-mates were in attendance to pay respects. Later on in the game, fans would hold a minute’s applause in the 31st minute for Baldock.

On the pitch, Vale had an early chance as Lorent Tolaj fired a strike wide after the home side lost possession, before goalkeeper Tom McGill repelled a strike by young full-back Jack Shorrock.

MK Dons slowly began to offer more in the game, and they would come close when Aaron Nemane cut inside and had a strike kept out by Connor Ripley.

The Dons then thought they had the lead when Liam Kelly’s pass played Tommy Leigh through, but an offside flag was raised before Leigh beat Ripley in a one-on-one to score.

A few moments later, Leigh would have another goal disallowed. The attacker had bundled in from Kelly’s corner, but the officials deemed he had used a hand to turn it past Ripley, and the goal was also ruled out.

As the game got closer to half-time, Port Vale began to have opportunities. Former AFC Wimbledon winger Ronan Curtis would have the two best ones, blasting one off target before seeing one denied by McGill. Tolaj would also see a strike deflected over as the visitors tried to find a first-half breakthrough.

After a slow start to the second half, the visitors created further chances. Connor Hall hit a fine volley narrowly off target, before captain Ben Garrity saw a deflected strike kept out by McGill.

MK Dons threw on strikers, giving recent free signing Scott Hogan his debut and Ellis Harrison a return, but the visitors still looked dangerous, with McGill having to make stops to deny Tolaj and Curtis in quick succession.

Ryan Croasdale hit the side-netting before Hall headed over at a free-kick a few moments later.

The Dons’ best chance in this period fell the way of Joe Tomlinson, who would see a strike hit the side-netting via a deflection.

With 13 minutes to go, Vale would find a way through. The visitors worked the ball out to Shorrock, whose cross would find Hackford in a prime position to flick the ball past McGill and score.

Hackford had the chance to put the game to bed when he was played through by Jayden Stockley only to be denied by McGill in a one-on-one.

MK Dons did have a few forward moments in the aftermath, with Alex Gilbey seeing a shot straight at Ripley before Connor Lemonhaigh-Evans would see a strike blocked by a defender and another by Ripley in the middle of a series of corners.

But MK Dons struggled to get going after that brief flurry, and they would end the game with no goal or points.

MK Dons: McGill – Tucker, Offord, Maguire – Nemane, Lemonhaigh-Evans, Kelly, Tomlinson – White (Hogan 59), Leigh (Harrison 68), Gilbey

Subs not used: MacGillivray, Lewington, Williams, Ilunga, Carroll

Booked: Maguire

Port Vale: Ripley – Debrah, Hall, Heneghan – Cover (Sang 68), Croasdale (Lowe 88), Garrity, Shorrock – Tolaj (Hackford 68), Stockley, Curtis (Richards 74)

Subs not used: Amos, Chislett, Lowe, Paton

Goal: Hackford (77)

Booked: Debrah, Richards, Stockley