MK Dons suffered their first defeat in League 2 this season after losing to Walsall 1-0 at Stadium MK.

Charlie Lakin’s deflected goal in the opening stages of the second half was the only strike of the contest, with the Dons unable to take the opportunities that came their way in the contest.

The result meant a first defeat in league action for the Dons both in the new season and under Paul Warne, who had been unbeaten in his first 9 matches since taking charge at the club in April.

The last game of August saw the Dons looking to maintain their unbeaten start, as they faced another side to have won 3 of their first 5 outings in the form of Walsall, who were chasing their first back-to-back wins of the new campaign.

Warne’s selection included a debut for new signing Jon Mellish, who joined on loan from Wigan earlier in the week.

Although the Dons had been hoping to pick up where they left off after scoring 5 in their last home match, it was Walsall who settled faster, with the visitors looking bright in the early stages.

Rushian Hepburn-Murphy had a shot blocked, but the visitors were posing questions of the Dons’ defence, with Daniel Kanu and Lakin both having strikes blocked.

The best chance of the opening stages came on a Walsall counter. Kanu lead the charge at speed before his cross was intercepted by Jack Sanders. His clearance fell for Lakin, however, and the Walsall man hit a crisp first-time strike well stopped by Craig MacGillivray.

Lakin and Aden Flint would both miss the target with opportunities, but Walsall’s momentum was checked when defender Evan Weir had to be substituted due to an injury.

As they adjusted, the Dons began to offer a little more going forward, with Callum Paterson seeing an effort drift wide before Sanders ballooned an effort off target in stoppage time.

While the Dons had in truth not offered much before the break, they missed a great chance to open the scoring minutes after the break. Sanders’ flick-on at a free-kick fell kindly for Paterson, who had broke free from the away defensive line only to place an effort wide when one-on-one with the keeper.

Things got worse for the Dons a few moments later when they fell behind. A misplaced pass by Alex Gilbey on the edge of the Walsall box was pushed forward by the visitors, who committed numbers forward. Aaron Pressley’s lay-off fell kindly for Lakin in space, with his strike taking a big deflection that wrong-footed MacGillivray and landed in the bottom corner to put the West Midlanders in front.

The Dons attempted some moves to find their way back on level terms, with Nathaniel Mendez-Laing missing the target from a routine before Will Collar’s header was denied by Myles Roberts.

MK Dons then felt Walsall should’ve been reduced to ten men when the already booked Vincent Harper committed another foul, with the home crowd unimpressed when Harper was let off with an extended warning. Harper would duly be withdrawn a few moments later.

Perhaps the Dons’ best chance for an equaliser came with just under 20 minutes to go. Gilbey had initially been forced wide when on for a strike, but his cross picked out Mendez-Laing, whose first time drive was well stopped by Roberts. The keeper would also hold onto a follow-up header by Luke Offord.

MK Dons tried to keep on pressing, with a deflected Dan Crowley free-kick held by Roberts as the visitors tried to hang on.

Walsall would have a brief moment of respite with a few corners, although they were unable to find a second goal.

In the final minute of the 90, home substitute Jonathan Leko nearly got an equaliser single handedly with a driving run to the box that forced a save from Roberts. Crowley’s attempt at a rebound saw him fail to connect with one attempt before a second was blocked by a defender.

But the home side soon ran out of steam, creating only a few half-chances in stoppage time as their hopes of a point ultimately disappeared.

MK Dons: MacGillivray – Offord (Lemonheigh-Evans 88), Ekpiteta, Sanders, Mellish (Leko 84) – Collar (Crowley 70), Kelly, Gilbey – Mendez-Laing, Paterson, Hepburn-Murphy (Nemane 70)

Subs not used: Trueman, Thompson, Waller

Booked: Offord, Paterson

Walsall: Roberts – Burke, Flint, Weir (Farquharson 27) – Barrett, Jellis (Finnigan 45), Warrington (Comley 78), Lakin, Harper (Clarke 61) – Pressley, Kanu (Adomah 78)

Subs not used: Hornby, Matt

Booked: Harper