NEWS CHANNELTranmere Rovers 0, MK Dons 2
MK Dons maintained their excellent winning run in NPower League One with a well deserved victory at Prenton Park.
Tranmere made them fight hard but failed to take their chances as they suffered a fourth successive reverse in the division.
Early play was very scrappy as both sides took time to warm to the cold conditions. Rovers had the first chance but Robbie Weir headed off target in the seventh minute.
Jose Baxter had no better luck for the Merseysiders after good approach work five minutes later.
The Dons could not capitalise from a couple of corners and generally struggled to get in a blow at the home goal.
But they were ahead from their first chance on nineteen minutes following a smart counter attack after David Martin comfortably held an Enoch Showunmi header. Adam Smith provided the cross for Jabo Ibehre to head in from close range at the far post for his seventh of the season.
Showunmi was inches wide with a good effort two minutes later and then John Welsh brought an excellent diving save from Martin on 25 minutes.
Baxter tested Martin again three minutes on and tranmere were certainly looking threatening.
Luke Chadwick was busy for the Dons and was unlucky with a snap effort after good approach work on 39 minutes. Then home keeper Paul Rachubka did well to block out a close range strike by Ibehre as the half time whistle approached.
Tranmere sent on Adam McGurk for Lucas Akins at the start of the second period in a tactical change.
Gary Mackenzie headed over from a 47th minute corner as the Dons looked to double their advantage.
he visitors had Dean Bowditch booked for a challenge on Andy Robinson in the 53rd minute. Martin saved well from the subsequent free kick by the home player.
Chadwick held his head in disbelief as Rachubka somehow got a finger tip to a goal bound effort in the 54th minute.
But the Dons were not to be denied on the hour with Shaun Williams firing low past Rachubka from a well placed pass by Charlie MacDonald.
There was a let off for the visitors in the 65th minute. Baxter hit the bar with a twenty five yard free kick and Showunmi then somehow fired over from point blank range following the rebound.
The home side sent on Mustafa Tiryaki and Joss Labadie to try to change things but it was not to be.
The Dons who replaced Ibehre with Angelo Balanta and Bowditch with Daniel Powell for the closing minutes were pretty well disciplined throughout, passed the ball well and generally gave Rovers a footballing lesson.
But they picked up late bookings via Williams and Chadwick for fouls on Labadie and Mark McChrystal.
James O’Shea was a third replacement for the Dons in added time as Chadwick came off.
