MK Dons Head Coach Scott Lindsey praised his team for their display against AFC Wimbledon, if admitting disappointment they couldn’t turn one point into three.

Lindsey was pleased with his side’s work against an AFC Wimbledon team that began the day in the play-off positions, with the Dons boss feeling that his side were the consistently brighter looking and that they looked the likelier to come away with the three points.

He said, “I thought we were outstanding. We deserved to win it. I thought we were brilliant and I really liked us today. I felt it before the game in the meeting.

“We were defensively really strong, obviously with our addition, and we played so well. First 25 minutes, we were outstanding – best we’ve played. Of course, they’re going to have a spell in the game – they’re a good side that are in the play-off positions for a reason and they had a spell, kind of, towards the end of the second half.

“But I think that’s going to do so much for us as a football club, that performance, based on needing to turn a corner today. I’m really disappointed we didn’t win it. I really wanted to win it and think we looked like the team that wanted to win it the most, and thought we were brilliant.”

One noteworthy inclusion in the team was Nathan Thompson, who was straight in the starting line-up after signing from Stevenage the day before, and Lindsey, who worked in a coaching staff at Swindon with Thompson in the past, praised his latest recruit for his instant impact.

He said, “He’s an incredible signing for the football club, I’ll tell you that now. We’ve worked really hard to get him. I’ve known Nathan a long time – I worked with him many years ago, 2015, when he was at Swindon and I was one of the coaches there, and he’s incredible in terms of defensive prowess.

“Outstanding performance by him but also, in the locker room, he’s a real culture setter and one of the best I’ve seen. I think he’s an amazing signing for the football club and I think the fans could see out there today how good he is.”

Lindsey also said, “I think the big reason why we keep a clean sheet today is because of Nathan Thompson. He just organises and you can hear him talking throughout the game to both centre halves either side and Jay Williams in front. We crunch the pitch better.

“I think when you’ve got that older head at the back, it calms you down on the ball. So he’s a big reason.”

While MK Dons had issues with creating chances, Lindsey mused that the visitors did a good work in defending them, but said he was happy with the work MK Dons put in against AFC Wimbledon and that it was worthy of unlocking the door.

He said, “I think sometimes you’ve got to give the opposition a bit of credit.

“Sometimes you play against teams that are just very good at defending in the box. I do know our xG would be higher than theirs, which it hasn’t been in the last six or seven games, and I was really keen to get our xG differential in a strong position today because the more you do that, the more likely it is you win games.”

Lindsey also said he felt the team put in a display that the fans could be happy with.

He said, “I think everyone in the stadium could clearly see that we were on it and we were at it today. We worked harder than them and we did everything we could to win that game of football today. I think that’s what I want the fans to feel – that we have a group of players willing to go through the pain barrier for that to happen. We just couldn’t put the ball in the back of the net but I thought the performance was top class.”

Northampton Town were able to keep out promotion chasing Wycombe as they played out a 0-0 draw at Adams Park.

The draw denied Wycombe the chance to take top spot in the League One table, while a third draw in six games under Kevin Nolan means the Cobblers remain in the spot directly above the relegation zone. They are six points ahead of Burton Albion, Cambridge United and Crawley Town, who are all level on 21 points in the three places immediately behind them.

The Cobblers arrived facing a tricky test against the Chairboys, as despite the recent departure of Matt Bloomfield, the Buckinghamshire-based hosts had the opportunity to move top following league leaders Birmingham City drawing on Thursday.

But a Northampton side featuring debutant Terry Taylor started brightly, as they restricted Wycombe’s chance creation. They also briefly thought they’d taken the lead when Aaron McGowan headed in Taylor’s corner, only for a foul on Wycombe keeper Franco Ravizzoli to intervene.

Tom Eaves would also see an effort denied by Ravizzoli, although did so from an offside position so the goal wouldn’t have counted.

The hosts’ best first half opportunity did nearly provide a goal, however, as Joe Low got space to meet a cross from the Wycombe right and saw a prodded strike denied by Nik Tzanev.

Tzanev would make another decent save to deny Josh Scowen after the break, before Fred Onyedinma headed over later on.

Northampton could’ve stolen the points late on, only for substitute Tarique Fosu to get his shot wrong when found in the penalty area and scuff it wide.

A close game ultimately ended up with few concrete opportunities and with it, neither side could take the three points.

Northampton’s next assignment will see them make the trip to play Nolan’s former club and currently managerless Bolton Wanderers on Tuesday.

MK Dons and AFC Wimbledon had to share the points after a 0-0 draw at Stadium MK.

A scrappy game was shaded by the home side, who had their moments and chances, but a game that provided an accumulated total of just three shots on target failed to see either side find the winning breakthrough.

A point sees MK Dons end a run of defeats, having lost their previous three games, while they also picked up a first point in four games against AFC Wimbledon. The Dons remain adrift in the play-off battle, however, with the side from MK 9 points off the top six in League Two with 18 games to go.

Following defeat by Fleetwood in a game in hand in midweek, MK Dons arrived seeking a result to kickstart their hopes of making a late run to the play-offs. Waiting for them would be a tough test, in the form of rivals AFC Wimbledon, with the visitors having already beaten MK Dons in the league and FA Cup this season and arriving with the league’s best defensive record.

The game saw new faces introduced to the Stadium MK crowd, with Nathan Thompson making a first team debut the day after signing for MK Dons from Stevenage, while recent arrivals Dan Crowley and Jay Williams made their first appearances at home for the club.

Hoping to make an early impression, MK Dons nearly found a way through inside the opening minute, as from kick-off, Aaron Nemane saw a strike blocked by a covering defender.

Scott Hogan would be denied by visiting keeper Owen Goodman, albeit from an offside position, before an off-balance Hogan would see a looping header held by the AFC Wimbledon keeper a few moments later.

The hosts continued to have a fast start, with perhaps their best chance seeing Luke Offord head over from Joe Tomlinson’s cross into the box.

MK Dons then saw another good opportunity ultimately thwarted by the officials, who deemed Jay Williams to have fouled in the build up before Joe White saw a strike denied by Goodman.

Having not found a breakthrough early on, MK Dons then found momentum checked as the game became scrappier. Williams would earn a booking for a foul that nearly started a melee, with his boss Lindsey then booked for his own discussions with the officials.

AFC Wimbledon nearly sprung a surprise on the hosts as they began to offer more, but their best efforts saw James Tilley miscue an attempted overhead kick before Josh Kelly planted a strike in the stands.

After the half-time interval, Hogan would see a strike blocked by a covering defender in the opening moments of the half, before Thompson headed over at the resulting corner.

MK then had two shots blocked when AFC keeper Goodman could only parry White’s cross into an area of danger, but the away side’s rear-guard remained a stubborn one.

Long periods of the second half would ultimately be played in the middle third of the pitch, as while MK Dons had moments going forward and AFC Wimbledon would have a threat, neither side was consistently providing moments to worry the two goalkeepers.

When the game entered the final stages, it began to see more momentum applied as both sides chased the win. Alex Gilbey would see a strike blocked before a fine block by Thompson prevented away sub Aron Sasu from a clear run at goal.

An MK Dons free-kick nearly caused some chaos in the box, before the game was halted when a collision left home sub Charlie Waller and away sub Sasu on the deck, with Waller needing a bandage and clean shirt after coming off worse.

That ultimately delayed the three minutes of injury time, meaning that in the sixth and final minute, perhaps the chance of the game fell AFC Wimbledon’s way.

An errant backpass by Thompson nearly caught out Craig MacGillivray, who stood tall to smother Marcus Browne’s shot at close range, before Matty Stevens had a follow-up blocked and Alistair Smith planted the ball into the stands with the final kick of the game.

That meant stalemate at Stadium MK, with MK Dons now turning attentions to seeking a first home win since early December when they host Harrogate on Tuesday.

MK Dons: MacGillivray – Offord (Waller 45), Thompson, Lawrence – Nemane, White (Thompson-Sommers 76), Williams, Tomlinson – Crowley, Hogan, Gilbey

Subs not used: McGill, Harrison, O’Reilly, Hendry, Lemonheigh-Evans

Booked: Williams, Lindsey (HC)

AFC Wimbledon: Goodman – Lewis (Ogundere 73), Hutchinson, Johnson – Neufville, Smith, Reeves, Tilley – Stevens, Bugiel (Sasu 80), Kelly (Browne 73)

Subs not used: Ward, Furlong, Hippolyte, Pigott

Booked: Smith, Browne

Luton Town remain searching for their first win under new boss Matt Bloomfield after a 1-0 defeat by Millwall.

Mihailo Ivanovic scored the game’s only goal with a crisp volley in the second half, in a game where the Londoners had also missed a penalty.

While victory saw Millwall win for the first time under recently appointed boss Alex Neil, Luton are still waiting for a first win under their new boss after three games. The Hatters remain in the Championship relegation zone, with the side sat 23rd in the table and three points from safety.

With dropzone rivals Hull City pulling off a shock win at Sheffield United on Friday night, Luton arrived knowing they needed something against the only side they have beaten away from home so far this season.

After a slow start on a sunny Saturday at Kenilworth Road, the game began to open up, with Carlton Morris thwarted during an episode of penalty box pinball before a dipping drive by Aaron Connolly was denied by Thomas Kaminski.

Millwall were then awarded a penalty when Connolly, on following an early injury, was tripped in the box by Marvelous Nakamba and a penalty awarded.

From 12 yards, however, Thomas Kaminski denied Connolly, as his trailing leg was able to stop the centrally-struck penalty by Connolly.

A few minutes later, Luton nearly added to the pain for the visitors, as Morris headed wide from a corner.

Morris would again just miss the target with an effort from a set piece, before a shot across goal by Millwall’s Duncan Watmore just missed the mark.

With an hour or so played, Millwall opened the deadlock in flying style. Ra’ees Bangura-Williams played in Ivanovic on the edge of the box, and the Serbian took one touch to control the ball before planting a fine volleyed strike into the back of the net.

Ivanovic nearly scored again a few moments later, with a strike that struck the ground and rose up having to tipped into the stands by Kaminski.

Visiting keeper Lukas Jensen denied Jordan Clark, before Kaminski was forced into action to deny Ivanovic.

Luton would have a few chances late on but couldn’t beat Jensen, who was unable to complete the match after pulling up injured, but the Hatters also couldn’t beat his replacement Liam Roberts as Millwall closed the game out to take the win.

The Hatters face a difficult match next time out, when they visit a Sheffield Wednesday side pushing for the play-offs next Saturday.

MK Dons have announced the signing of defender Nathan Thompson, who has joined the club from Stevenage.

Thompson, whose younger brother Louis previously played for MK Dons in two loan spells, has signed a contract of undisclosed length at Stadium MK after moving for an undisclosed fee.

The deal makes Thompson the Dons’ fourth signing of the January transfer window, to go with the previously announced arrivals of Jay Williams, Dan Crowley and Tommi O’Reilly.

The move sees the Dons sign an experienced defender who has previously made EFL appearances for Swindon, Portsmouth, Peterborough and Stevenage, making over 440 professional appearances in a career spanning over a decade.

Thompson had joined Stevenage from Peterborough in 2023, and he had made 20 appearances in the current campaign.

In an interview with the official MK Dons website, Thompson voiced of his delight to move to the club.

He said, “I’ve heard very good things! Speaking to the manager and the ownership, the plans and vision for this club are really exciting. It’s a good time to be involved!

“I can play in a back three, I grew up playing right-back and then moved inside under Luke Williams and Mark Cooper at Swindon. I like to think I’ll add a bit of experience in terms of leadership and talking. I think naturally, as you get slightly older you can start to help and impart that experience on younger players like we’ve got in this team.”

The Dons’ Head Coach Scott Lindsey added, “I’m delighted to see Nathan come through the door. He’s a player I’ve worked with before and have great trust in. At this stage in his career, he’s very experienced but still has the hunger and athleticism to be a brilliant addition at this level. He’s an organised and versatile defender and we’re very pleased to have him with us.”

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