MK Dons hold Leicester to goalless draw

MK Dons picked up a point as they held Leicester City to a goalless draw at Stadium MK.

The Foxes missed the best chances in the encounter, as Leicester tried but ultimately failed to break down the MK Dons rear-guard, with the hosts relieved to hold off the challenge and pick up a share of the points in the encounter.

A point means that Paul Warne’s side maintain their 100% run of draws so far this season, with MK Dons having drawn all 3 of their opening league matches.

After stalemates against Oxford and Huddersfield in their opening pair of matches in the new season, MK Dons faced a big test in the form of a visit from Leicester City, who are still rebuilding after back-to-back relegations. The contest also bought a first reunion for the Dons with Russell Martin, who was returning to Milton Keynes as a manager for the first time since leaving the club on the eve of the 2021/22 campaign.

Warne named the same starting 11 as began against Huddersfield, but they very nearly fell behind in the opening phase of the contest as they had down against the Terriers last time out. With less than 10 minutes on the clock, a through-ball released Bobby De Cordova-Reid, who was deemed onside. The striker was one-on-one with Craig MacGillivray but could only put the ball wide in a let-off for the hosts.

As was to be expected, Leicester dominated possession of the ball but a stout MK Dons defence was not proving easy to break down, and the Dons did sneak a few counter attacking moves, only for the final balls to struggle to find their targets.

Leicester created a decent opportunity for full-back Jayden Joseph, as a pass from away skipper Conor Chaplin released Joseph only for MacGillivray to respond with a smart save.

MacGillivray would soon be called on again to make a smart save to deny Sammy Braybrooke while he also made a comfortable save to thwart Leicester winger Tommy Watson.

The balance of play continued into the early stage of the second half. Admir Bristic, who was bought on for the injured Chaplin, saw a strike deflected just over and from the resulting corner, a quick short-corner move teed up Braybrooke, who forced a fine stop out of MacGillivray.

While MK Dons upped their tempo and were starting to create a little more, Leicester did remain the team that created the better chances. Louis Page would see a snapshot clear the bar, Watson would see a low strike repelled by MacGillivray and away sub Harry Howell would see a strike deflected just wide.

Braybrooke would nearly score a fine solo goal, with the Leicester academy graduate picking up the ball and going for a run through the home ranks only to see his shot clip the outside of the post on its way behind.

MK Dons introduced club captain Alex Gilbey off the bench for his first appearance of the new campaign, but still the better chances were falling Leicester’s way. A chance nearly came for Joseph as the Foxes’ right back picked up when the Dons failed to clear Will Alves’ cross and his effort duly pinged off the top of the bar.

Having created very little for much of the game, MK Dons would see perhaps their two best chances come near the end. Substitute Ryan Barnett would see a ball into the box headed wide by Sam Nombe, while Gilbey would see a deflected shot held by Jakub Stolarczyk.

Leicester would still have late chances, with MacGillivray denying Bristric, sub Liam Cullen scuffing an effort straight at the keeper and Page having a drive deflected over, but it would ultimately end as a game without goals, with the points duly shared.

MK Dons: MacGillivray – Ekpiteta, Nelson, Goode (Sanders 79) – Jones (Barnett 57), Wiles (Gilbey 71), Barlaser (Silvera 79), Wintle, Bramall – Nombe, Collins (Paterson 57)

Subs not used: Dennis, Crowley

Leicester: Stolarczyk – Joseph, Souttar, Thomas, McFarlane – Burns (Howell 61), Page, Braybrooke, Watson (Alves 83) – Chaplin (Bristric 35) – De Cordova-Reid (Cullen 83)

Subs not used: McCarthy, Kangasniemi, Aluko

Booked: Thomas, Souttar, Cullen