MK Dons squeezed out Accrington Stanley with a 2-1 victory at Stadium MK in League Two.
The Dons took a first minute lead through Alex Gilbey and doubled their lead through Joe Tomlinson in the second half.
The visitors got a goal back through substitute Josh Woods, but MK Dons were just about able to keep their guests at arm’s length, in the process holding out to pick up back-to-back wins for the first time this season.
Victory also saw the Dons move into 12th, in the process seeing the team move into the top half of the table for the first time this season.
MK Dons had opted to stick with the same starting eleven that had won at Morecambe at the weekend ahead of a big test against an Accrington Stanley side that had won each of the previous three league games.
But the Dons were able to make the fastest possible start. Before the opening minute of the game had elapsed, a rushed clearance by Zach Awe fell kindly for Gilbey, who was able to charge to meet the ball and clip a first time strike into the back of the net.
Despite the early shock of conceding, it was Accrington Stanley who ended up having moments going forward. Dara Costelloe had a strike blocked by Nico Lawrence, before Shaun Whalley came close with a long range free-kick that Tom McGill had to parry past his post.
Costelloe would then fire wide from a good position, while a cross by Conor O’Brien would narrowly clear McGill’s crossbar.
The second half began with Stanley still applying pressure but MK Dons were able to keep things from their own goal, and just before the hour mark, they would find themselves a second goal.
Conor Lemonhaigh-Evans’ cross was blocked by a covering defender, but first to the loose ball was Tomlinson. In turn, the Dons’ wing-back was able to try his luck from range and hit the jackpot with a strike that crashed into the back of the net.
Gilbey would have a strike blocked by Farrend Rawson moments later, but the visitors retained a threat as substitute Tyler Walton had a shot blocked and Donald Love saw a strike kept out by McGill.
Accrington would halve the deficit with just over 20 minutes of normal time to go, as Walton’s cross found his fellow sub Woods, who duly tapped in.
The flow of the game would then begin to stutter, however, with a lunge on Tomlinson leading to a melee and a series of niggly fouls see the referee’s yellow card begin to be seen more often, including a yellow to Dean Lewington despite the Dons defender still being on the bench.
Alex Henderson would see a shot deflected wide off MJ Williams, with appeals for a handball denied, while MK Dons nearly bundled their way to a third goal when Billy Crellin had to stop scorer Woods putting a diving header into his own net and Gilbey firing over.
McGill made late saves to deny Henderson and Walton, before Ben Woods’ strike had to be tipped over, but the home side were largely keeping firm as the game moved into six minutes of stoppage time.
This stoppage time was extended when Tom Carroll suffered a knock from a foul by former Dons man Ashley Hunter, but the hosts ultimately saw the job through to pick up the three points.
MK Dons: McGill – Offord, Lawrence, Maguire – Nemane (Williams 75), Lemonhaigh-Evans, Kelly, Tomlinson – White (Carroll 45 (Lewington 90+7)), Hogan (Harrison 65), Gilbey
Subs not used: MacGillivray, Tucker, Ilunga
Goal: Gilbey (1), Tomlinson (58)
Booked: Gilbey, Tomlinson, Lewington
Accrington Stanley: Crellin – Aljofree, Rawson, Awe – O’Brien, B. Woods, Coyle (Love 60), Batty (Henderson 80) – Whalley (Hunter 75) – Costelloe (Walton 60), Knowles (J. Woods 60)
Subs not used: Kelly, Popoola
Goal: J. Woods (66)
Booked: Whalley, Batty, Coyle, Love, Rawson, Hunter