MK DONS 0
AFC BOURNEMOUTH 1
Johnstone's Paint Trophy - Southern Area 2nd round
stadiummk
Half-time: 0 - 0
TEN man MK Dons surrendered the Johnstone's Paint Trophy last night as they were knocked out of the competition by Bournemouth.
Former England and Spurs star Darren Anderton sealed the Dons' fate with a 77th minute tap-in to end the Dons' title defence at the second round stage.
But the Dons will feel robbed of their trophy as Flavien Belson's straight red card on the 47th minute appeared harsh and out of character in what had been a lacklustre game.
Belson's dismissal left the Dons with an uphill challenge.
While Bournemouth, who were knocked out of the same competition by the Dons last season, were out to seek revenge.
Chances were few and far between and the Dons were left to rue not taking the little opportunities that fell.
One of which came early when Kevin Gallen stung Shawn Jalal's palms for the first time.
Gallen picked up the ball in his own half, he embarked on a run through the middle, easily turning Scott Guyett in the process before a good strike from the left of the box was caught by the Cherries' keeper.
Sixty seconds later Florium Sturm released him on the right but Gallen fired wide.
There was not much to suggest that a division separates the two sides in the early exchanges.
Bournemouth had Warren Cummings' tame effort easily saved by Nathan Abbey, and Marvin Bartley looked clean through to goal until Abbey cleared with his legs on the edge of the box.
Mark Wright forced a save from Jalal and Florium Sturm was unable to convert at the near post in the Dons' final chances before the break.
The Dons, having made two substitutes in the interval, were then dealt a massive blow when Belson was shown red for a challenge on Brett Pitman with two minutes of the restart.
Both the Dons and Bournemouth appeared baffled by the decision and it meant an uphill struggle for Di Matteo's men.
Pitman could have added further to the home sides misery when he collected yards from the goal mouth but with Miguel Llera and Carl Regan on his back the Cherries striker found the ball stuck under his feet and then struck well wide.
Bournemouth threw men up front in a hope to take advantage of their man advantage.
It meant the Dons had to take their chances when they fell and Gallen, who appeared to be in the air for an age as Sturm's delivery from the left reached him, thought he had headed the Dons ahead only for Jalal's superb save to deny him.
There were close calls for the Dons when they cleared an almighty goal mouth scramble following Pitman's nod down, then Anderton smashed the woodwork with a fierce strike.
But Anderton was the man to break the deadlock on on the 77th minute.
The Dons failed to close down Danny Hollands allowing him to drive a 25-yard low cross-shot which Anderton stuck a leg at to knock the ball beyond Abbey.
Dons tried their best to claw their way back but in the end were left to hand back the Johnstone's Paint Trophy after just seven months in their possession.
MK DONS: Abbey, Regan, O'Hanlon (Llera 45), Stirling, Lewington (c), Wright (Chadwick 45), Navarro, Belson, Sturm (Chicksen 70), Gallen, Johnson.
Booked: Gallen
Sent-off: Belson 47
BOURNEMOUTH: Jalal, Bartley, Bradbury, Goulding (Pitman 14), Pearce, Anderton (c), Cummings, Sturrock (McQuoid 70), Guyett, Cooper.
Goal: Anderton 77
Booked: Bartley, Pitman, Bradbury, Cummings
Referee: Anthony Taylor (Gtr Manchester)