MK Dons began 2026 with defeat after a late penalty saw them lose 1-0 away at Colchester United.

An injury time penalty scored by former Don Jack Payne was the difference after the Dons’ New Year’s Day defeat in Essex, which condemned the Dons to a first defeat in 5 League Two games.

Victories elsewhere for Salford and Cambridge meant that MK Dons slid to 6th in the table, though they remain 3 points off an automatic promotion place in a tight table.

One notable change for the Dons was the absence of captain Alex Gilbey, who was rested amid concern over his groin.

The Dons’ third game in six days had a fairly close first half, with few major opportunities created. Colchester would however come close to taking one, with Craig MacGillivray just about stopping Kane Vincent-Young’s effort from crossing the line.

An opportunity for the Dons, meanwhile, saw Aaron Collins denied at close range by Colchester keeper Matt Macey.

Colchester came close just after the break when Arthur Read’s strike was blocked on the line by Jack Sanders.

The Dons would then come close, when a slack backpass released Rushian Hepburn-Murphy only for Macey to deny his shot. The U’s keeper would then also deny Liam Kelly in the same move as the Dons maintained pressure.

MacGillivray would make a big save in the final stages with a save to deny home sub Kyreece Lisbie in a one-on-one the final ten minutes.

But in injury time, Colchester would grab the day’s only goal. Dons sub Conor Lemonheigh-Evans brought down Lisbie, with the referee giving the penalty after a few moments of thinking time. Up stepped Payne, who’d scored a penalty against the Dons last season, and the midfielder would do so once more with the winner.

MK Dons face another quick turnaround before their next assignment, when they welcome Chesterfield to Stadium MK on Sunday.