MK Dons preserved their unbeaten start to the season as they came from behind to record a 2-1 win over Newport County.

Habeeb Ogunneye had given Newport an early lead at Rodney Parade, but a Nathaniel Mendez-Laing penalty brought the visitors on level terms before Callum Paterson put the visitors back in front.

Newport missed the chance to equalise when Bobby Kamwa hit the post with a late penalty, with the Dons seeing the job through to win in South Wales.

The home side would take the lead in the contest after six minutes. Ogunneye, on loan with the Exiles from Manchester United, was able to get the ball past MacGillivray, with the Dons keeper left annoyed by how the shot got past him.

Paterson had missed a chance just before the Welsh side opened the scoring, with the former Cardiff attacker later heading wide from a Liam Kelly corner.

Perhaps the Dons’ best opportunity for an equaliser came just before the half-hour mark when Alex Gilbey saw a strike blocked on the line by former Dons man Matt Smith.

Newport then missed a great chance for 2-0, with MacGillivray making a big save to keep out Michael Reindorf.

That proved more crucial after MK Dons equalised in first half stoppage time. A foul on Sanders by Lee Jenkins was penalised, with Mendez-Laing stepping up to score an equaliser.

MK Dons completed their comeback in the opening minutes of the second half when they made it 2-1. Paterson scored his third goal in four appearances as the summer signing from Sheffield Wednesday scored from a Kelly corner.

It wasn’t all plain sailing for the visitors after taking the lead, however. Having lost Joe Tomlinson to injury in midweek, the Dons’ only other fit senior full-back Gethin Jones then pulled up with an injury of his own, with the Dons having to resort to playing a defence of four centre-backs.

Things then nearly got worse for the visitors when Newport were awarded a penalty with 21 minutes to go after handball by Luke Offord. But Kamwa, who scored a hat-trick when the Dons lost at Newport last season, saw his penalty striking the post, with MK Dons barely able to scramble the ball clear.

The Dons lost another player to injury as substitute Scott Hogan had to be replaced. But as the game got near the end, they were able to resist.

Newport had late chances, with Smith prodding wide before substitute Anthony Glennon fired over with the last kick.

But MK Dons held on, picking up a third win from the opening five games of the season in a result that maintains their unbeaten start.

Paul Warne’s side now turn their attention to back-to-back home games against sides who have also made bright starts to the season, as they play Walsall and then Grimsby Town in the next two weekends.