MK Dons were beaten 3-0 away at promotion-chasing Port Vale.

Lorent Tolaj’s first-half opener was followed up by second half goals from Jayden Stockley and Ben Garrity, as the home side picked up a result that keeps their grip on a place in League Two’s top six.

The Dons meanwhile sit 18th in the table after defeat in Staffordshire, with the Dons 12 points ahead of the relegation zone with 10 games of a difficult season remaining.

Having ended a winless run at home to Morecambe in their last outing, MK Dons had been chasing back-to-back wins for the first time in 2025.

Tolaj fired an early shot wide for the home side, while the Dons saw Joe White’s effort just clear the bar.

Just before the half hour, Port Vale broke the deadlock. Nico Lawrence dithered when first to Stockley’s flick-on from a long goal kick, allowing Tolaj to seize the ball, advance and score the opening goal of the game.

Tolaj would later see a strike blocked by Lawrence, while the Dons’ best chance of the first half came in stoppage time as Luke Offord saw a header from a free-kick strike the crossbar.

Danilo Orsi was denied by Ben Amos just after the break, but the Dons would ultimately concede the game’s second goal.

The home side worked the ball out to former AFC Wimbledon winger Ronan Curtis, whose cross was met by Stockley for a slight flick to guide it beyond MK keeper Connal Trueman and double Vale’s lead.

Five minutes after the second Port Vale goal, MK Dons nearly conceded a third when Trueman had to make a fine save to thwart Connor Hall.

Alex Gilbey blazed the Dons’ best chance for a goal back over the bar when well placed, as hopes of a comeback to nick a point dwindled.

At the end of eight minutes of stoppage time, Port Vale would strike again, as Curtis’ pass released substitute Garrity, who placed a fine chip above Trueman’s head and into the back of the net.

That capped off a miserable day for the Dons, who haven’t won an away match since New Year’s Day. They will be seeking a first victory on their travels since then when they travel to Cheltenham next weekend.