MK DONS 1LEYTON ORIENT 0League Onestadiummk
Mark Carrington heads the only goal against Leyton Orient
Mark Carrington netted his fifth goal of the season to help MK Dons to a 1-0 win over Leyton Orient.
Carrington provided the breakthrough with a header in the 31st minute in a match the Dons dominated as Orient offered little up front.
Aside from five nervy minutes at the end of the game, the result never looked in doubt for the Dons who could have been further ahead had two decent penalty appeals gone in their favour.
But considering it was only their fifth victory since the turn of the year the Dons would have been more than happy to take a 1-0, and record their first clean sheet in nine games.
The three points moves the Dons to within seven points of Millwall, who moved into the last League One play-off spot.
Dons had their on-loan winger called back by Tottenham on Saturday, so Mark Randall was handed his third start and Mark Carrington replaced Stephen Gleeson in midfield.
A minute long applause was held prior to kick-off to celebrate the life of Keith Alexander who passed away on Tuesday night. His son Matt was sat in the stands watching the game.
Dons had a promising start with some neat football outside the Oreint box between Aaron Wilbraham, Jermain Easter and Luke Chadwick, yet top scorer Easter wasted the moment when he shot wildly off-target.
Orient were under pressure as an early breakthrough looked to be the key target for the Dons. But Paul Ince's men were caught on the counterattack and when the offside didnt raise for a run by Scott McGleish it was left to David McCracken to recover in time to make a thumping clearance.
When Wilbraham went sprawling to the floor on his way into the Orient box Dons fans thought they might have a chance to open the scoring from the penalty spot, however, much to the strikers protest Wilbraham found himself with a caution for diving.
For all their share of the ball it took the Dons some time to test the O's goalkeeper Jamie Jones and when Chadwick called him into action in the 17th minute the former-Manchester United winger knew he should have scored.
The chance came from a James Tunnicliffe long throw, which was proving to be a useful weapon to cause problems for the O's defence, which was played back in by Leven before Wilbraham teed-up Chadwick.
However, Chadwick was off balance as he tried a shot-on-the-turn which lacked power to make it anything other than a comfortable collection for the O's keeper.
Dons kept edging ever closer as Levens long range effort forced a corner, and Dean Lewington saw his header rise just over the bar.
While Orient had been limited to a poor off-target shot by Aaron Doran, who spent time on loan with the Dons earlier in the season.
Dons cracked Orient on the half-hour mark after committing men forward finally paid off.
Orient were lackadaisical in their defending as they allowed McCracken to dig the ball out on the edge of the box, and as Wilbraham delivered in a crisp cross Carrington arrived to nod past Jones.
Conceding gave Orient the kick into life they had needed as they began to show more attack, although not enough to cause Willy Gueret any trouble.
Five minutes after the break Chadwick once again called upon O's goalie Jones, who raced off his line to block the shot from the left flank and left Chadwick needed brief treatment.
Orient had their own spell of dominance with Sean Thornton in particular causing a nuisance yet the likes of Wilbraham and Randall threw their bodies on the line to close down shots as Gueret remained untested.
Meanwhile, Randall and Easter had long blasts fall wide at the other end.
Jimmy Smith was fortunate not to be sent-off on the hour mark when referee Danny McDermid spotted his stamp on Chadwick but only offered a caution.
Dons were in their right to feel aggrieved again when the referee failed to spot Thornton's deliberate handball which took the ball away Carrington.
Despite Orient creating nothing in front of goal the Dons knew a 1-0 score line made them a little vulnerable, and for the second time in the match skipper Lewington was left frustrated as his bullet header from Leven's great free-kick fell inches too high.
Then the Dons had another penalty appeal turned down, despite Timika Mkandawire pushing Easter to the ground when he was through on goal.
Eleven minutes from time Gueret was forced to make a rare save when James Scowcroft fired a wonderful volley at him, and a follow-up effort from the left was also blocked by the French keeper.
Orient threw every man forward in the closing moments, so Dons introduced Sean O'Hanlon to help soak up the pressure.
Substitute Dean Mogan tried to double the lead against his old team, but his ferocious drive went flying inches past the post and one goal was enough for Ince's men.
MK DONS: Gueret, Lewington (c), McCracken, Tunnicliffe (Tunnicliffe 88), Woodards, Chadwick (Morgan 84), Leven, Carrington, Randall, Easter (Stirling 90), Wilbraham.
Booked: Wilbraham, Lewington, Randall, Stirling
Goal: Carrington 31
LEYTON ORIENT: Jones, Purches (c), Chorley, Mkandawire, Doran (Tehou 63), McGliesh (Scowcroft 63), Thornton (Chambers 80), Demetriou, Jarvis, Cave-Brown, Smith.
Booked: Smith, Tehou
Referee: Danny McDermid (Hampshire)
Attendance: 14, 323