MK Dons 3 - 2 Rochdale

Bradden Inman scored the opening goal, his first for the club

MK Dons scored a late winner to edge Rochdale after Dale had initially taken the lead at Stadium MK.

Dale went ahead in the ninth minute with a smart measured Bradden Inman strike, his first for the club.

MK Dons responded well with a powerful drive from Gboly Ariyibi four minutes later. Then took the lead in the 41st minute with a stunning strike by Ariyibi into the top right corner. Matty Done eqalised less than a minute later with a scrappy goal from close distance.

With the scores level going into the later stages of the second half Ryan Seager, on as a substitute, got the right side of Harrison McGahey and confidently put a left side footed finish beyond the on rushing Rochdale goalkeeper.

Dale looked to continue the heroics of Tuesday nights’ win against Doncaster Rovers with manager Keith Hill naming an unchanged starting eleven. There were, however, changes on the bench with Niall Canavan and Mark Kitching making way for the returning Kgosi Nthle and Callum Camps.

Dale pressed the MK Dons defence in the early stages and good work in the final third from Ollie Rathbone created errors in the MK Dons’ defence.

A smart ball into feet from Ollie Rathbone was well controlled by Bradden Inman and his shot rippled the MK Dons’ net with Nicholls resigned to being a watching participant.

Rochdale continued to press in the early stages of the half.

Andy Cannon dragged a left footed shot just wide of goal.

MK Dons began to switch into gear, confidently playing the ball around the back and, probing for an opportunity, they were starting to make headway into the Dale final third.

Osman Sow’s low powerful cross found its way to the back post and the on-loan Nottingham Forest forward Ariyibi sent a powerful drive beyond the despairing reach of Brendan Moore.

This prompted a period of possession from MK Dons as they sought to take the lead.

The standout moment of the game came when Ariyibi took the ball up in midfield, turned to face the Dale goal and nutmegged the approaching M J Williams; with no Dale player closing the space he took aim and his thunderous strike screamed into the top right corner of the net, giving Moore no chance.

Dale had been out of the game for long periods and needed a change of impetus. Ollie Rathbone delivered a perfect slide rule pass into space on the left wing for the overlapping full back Joe Bunney. Bunney's low cross to the near post found Matty Done, whose shot was stopped well by the goalkeeper, but Done followed up and prodded the ball home from five yards, despite the MK Dons defenders on the line

The first real action of the second half came in the 60th minute when Davies lined up a free kick in a central position just five yards from the edge of the box. His left footed strike curled around the wall but Nicholls turned it around for a corner.

In the 81st minute Davies turned sharply when receiving the ball on the edge of the MK Dons area. This deceived his marker but on weaker right foot he pulled his shot wide of target.

Then came the moment that ultimately defined the game. A cleared ball from Nthle was chased down and the ensuing deflection took the ball out for a throw in. The quickly taken throw in was headed away by Nthle but only found Ousseynou Cisse who played a hopeful lofted ball over the head of Harrison McGahey. McGahey was too slow to react and Ryan Seager stole in goal side and made his way towards the Rochdale goal. Under pressure, he he curled the ball around the Dale goalkeeper to score the MK Dons winner.

MK Dons: Nicholls, Williams (c), Wooton, Upson (Cisse 70), Ariyibi, Sow, Tshibola (Agard 62), Nesbitt (Seager69), Brittain, Gilbey
Subs: (not used) Sietsnam Lewington, Muirhead, McGrandles

Rochdale: Moore, Rafferty, McGahey, McNulty (c), Bunney (Nthle 57), MJ Williams, Cannon (Camps 64), Rathbone, Inman, Davies (Slew 82), Done
Subs: (not used) Lillis, J Williams, Daniels, Gillam

Referee: Mr Gavin Ward
Assistants: Mr Mervyn Amphlett and Mrs Ian Smedley
Fourth Official: Mr Dumitru Cheosiaua

Attendance: 7,670