MK Dons picked up a first away win since New Year’s Day as they beat Cheltenham Town 1-0.

A first goal for the club by January signing Jack Sanders on his return to the side was the decisive moment, with the defender’s goal winning the game in Gloucestershire.

Victory at Whaddon Road means MK Dons now hold a 15 point lead on the relegation zone with 9 games of their season to go.

A tweaked Dons side began brightly, and after Joe White saw a strike go wide and Joe Tomlinson had another deflected wide, they found themselves a ninth minute lead.

A multi-player short-corner routine ended with the ball being played to White, who played in a cross for Sanders at the back post and the defender duly headed the ball home to score on his return after an absence due to illness.

MK Dons pushed on in their quest for a second goal, with Callum Hendry having a shot deflected wide by home defender Ibrahim Bakare before Alex Gilbey fired a low drive wide.

Cheltenham offered more as the game progressed, with Connal Trueman in the MK Dons goal making a double save to deny Matty Taylor and Jordan Thomas.

At the other end, Cheltenham keeper Joe Day was on hand to keep the score at 1-0, making saves to deny efforts from Laurence Maguire and then Dan Crowley.

MK Dons ultimately had the better opportunities to grab a goal in the second half. In the latter stages, Joe Tomlinson had a fine strike denied by Day with Danilo Orsi missing the target with the rebound, before Maguire was well denied by Day.

On his return from injury after 13 months out injured, Jonathan Leko thought he’d doubled the Dons’ advantage when he scored from close range only for an offside flag to interrupt any celebrations.

But the visitors were able to see the job through, taking victory at Cheltenham and with it the three points.

MK Dons will be aiming to get back-to-back wins in their next game, when they play a third straight away game as they travel to bottom side Carlisle United.