Published: 31/10/2009 00:00 - Updated: 04/11/2009 12:08

Dons edge past Rovers

MK DONS 2 BRISTOL ROVERS 1

MK DONS 2

BRISTOL ROVERS 1

League One

stadiummk

Second-half goals from Peter Leven and Jason Puncheon saw MK Dons return to winning ways at home to Bristol Rovers.



The Dons went ahead on the 71st minute through Leven’s penalty and Puncheon capped off his lively second-half performance with a fierce strike from his right boot the final minute.

However, Rovers, who hit the bar twice, ensured a nervy finish for the Dons when Chris Lines grabbed an injury time consolation for the visitors.

It was a dire first-half of football and thankfully it picked up after the break.

Danny Swailes was handed his first League start of the season while Martin Devaney went straight into the starting line-up after joining on loan from Barnsley midweek.

Former Dons Carl Regan, Mark Wright and Dominic Blizzard all started for Rovers but it was to be an unhappy return.

There was an early attacking threat about the Dons with Peter Leven having a long range shot blocked by Stuart Campbell and Jason Puncheon’s corner fizzing across the goal mouth inside the opening five minutes.

At the same end Puncheon’s deliveries continued to create chances for the Dons and when his out swinger fell at the feet of David McCracken Rovers’ Bryon Anthony threw his body in the way to block to deny the centre back.

Despite setting up in a 4-5-1 formation Rovers were equally as keen as their hosts to get on the score sheet could have down so through Steve Elliott.

The Rovers defender planted a strong header on to Campbell’s corner which Willy Gueret stood and watched believing it was off target only for him to rattle to woodwork.

The visitors took their time to settle into the game but when they did Paul Trollope’s men were capable of breaking the Dons down.

Andy Williams had McCracken and Swailes in a spin when he snuck past the pair yet a poor finish left Gueret with a simple save, then Wilbraham was called on to defend by closing down Jo Kuffour’s shot from Campbell’s free-kick.

There had been little action to excite the crowd with the majority of threatening moments, for both sides, coming from set plays. And the pattern continues when Puncheon’s free-kick from the right bounced through the Rovers defence and called upon goalie Mikkel Andersen.

On the stroke of half time the Dons had Gueret to thank for keeping the score level.

The Dons keeper bravely dived at the feet of Kuffour to stop him latching on to a quickly taken Campbell free-kick which once again unlocked the defence.

Under the watchful eye of boss Ince, who was on the touchline following his two-match ban, the Dons began the second half with more impetuous going forwards but it was Rovers who looked more likely to break the deadlock.

Former Don Mark Wright broke down the left to provide a good cross for the onrunning Williams, his chance was thwarted by Gueret.

Then seconds later Wright got the better of Wilbraham, who had been dragged into the rightback position, and Kuffour was able to rise highest with his header hitting the crossbar.

Before the hour mark Jermaine Easter did well to stay strong as he wrestled with Elliott to knock a chipped ball over the defence inches wide of the post.

Moments later Easter, the Dons’ top scorer, was substituted for Sam Baldock in the hope that his pace would cause Rovers problems.

The young striker did have a chance when he shared a quick one-two with Devaney but his first time shot went well over from 12 yards.

On the 70th minute Rovers’ hard work at the back was undone when referee Danny McDermid spotted Elliott’s shove on Mathias Doumbe and pointed to the penalty spot.

With number one penalty taker Easter now on the bench it was left to Peter Leven who duly stepped up and dispatched into the bottom right corner.

Ten minutes later Dons could have doubled their lead when Puncheon was threaded through at the left of the box. He struck low but Andersen got the slightest of touches to turn it wide and Leven dragged a long range strike wide from the resulting corner.

Ince’s men continued to push for a second and it eventually came on the 90th minute when Leven was accidentally played through by Chris Lines’ header and the midfielder cut the ball back into the box. Wilbraham and Baldock were unable to pick up the ball but Puncheon picked it up and fired beyond Andersen.

Any hopes of a clean sheet were ended in injury time when Dons failed to pick up Campbell’s corner and Lines converted from close range.

The comeback was too late for Rovers to leave stadiummk with a point.

MK DONS: Gueret, Lewington (c), Doumbe, McCracken, Gleeson (Howell 90), Easter (Baldock 61), Wilbraham, Puncheon, Leven, Swailes, Devaney (Doran 90).

Goals: Leven (pen) 71, Puncheon 90

BRISTOL ROVERS: Andersen, Regan, Wright, Elliott, Campbell (c), Williams (Dickson 74), Hughes (Duffy 79), Anthony, Blizzard (Lines 74), Kuffour, Lescott.

Booked: Elliott

Goal: Lines 90

Referee: Danny McDermid (Hampshire)

Attendance: 9,711 (734 away)