Nemane wonder goal enough for MK Dons to beat promotion rivals Swindon Town

A superb strike by Aaron Nemane was enough for MK Dons to record a 1-0 win over promotional rivals Swindon Town at Stadium MK.

Nemane’s first half goal was the only goal of the Boxing Day bash at Stadium MK, as despite both sides having other opportunities, there was no further goal added to the scoreboard.

The victory in the first of 4 games in a row that the Dons have against teams around them in the table sees them climb up a place to 4th. They are also now 1 point off the automatic promotion spots ahead of another promotion six pointer against Notts County on Tuesday.

Having recorded a comfortable victory over struggling Harrogate in their last pre-Christmas contest, MK Dons now turned their attention to the first of two promotion six pointers. This contest saw them take on a Swindon Town side who arrived in good form, with the Robins losing just one of their previous nine outings and starting Boxing Day level on points with leaders Walsall.

Swindon scored within the opening minute of the corresponding fixture 13 months ago, and it was they who had some early chances. Darren Oldaker had an early try blocked, before Craig MacGillivray had to make a save to deny Will Wright’s long-range free-kick.

The Dons soon offered a little more, with Alex Gilbey and Will Collar having shots blocked and Jamie Knight-Lebel having to intercept a dangerous cross seemingly well placed for Callum Paterson.

With 17 minutes on the dot, MK Dons then found a breakthrough. Nemane picked the ball up on the left flank in front of the away dugout, eluded 3 Swindon defender’s challenges as he cut inside and opted to let fly from range. His strike duly flew into the back of the net to open the scoring in fine style.

Paterson would head wide when well placed moments later, before Swindon began to up the ante themselves.

Jack Sanders, who returned after a 3 game ban, had made one good intervention to stop Paul Glatzel running through. But a few moments later, Sanders made a fine block on the line to turn Glatzel’s goalbound shot onto the bar. Finley Munroe whacked the rebound into the stands.

A few moments after Sanders’ intervention, MK Dons came very close to the lead when a searching long ball released Aaron Collins, and the Dons striker’s fine first time strike was tipped onto the post by Swindon keeper Connor Ripley.

Collins continued his determination to grab a first league goal at Stadium MK, with the striker having one shot blocked, another go wide and just after half-time, the former Bolton man tried his luck from an acute angle that flashed narrowly wide.

Sanders came close to make it 2-0 with the defender seeing a header from a Liam Kelly free-kick well saved by Swindon keeper Ripley.

The visitors then had a very good chance to equalise, with MacGillivray making a big save to deny Knight-Lebel and the Canadian defender’s rebound hit the side-netting, with some Swindon fans thinking the effort had found its way into the net.

Chasing the game, Swindon threw on changes to try and wrestle control in their favour. But despite losing Collar to injury, it was the Dons who were created a decent opportunity when Gilbey saw a strike denied by Ripley.

Swindon had been enjoying possession as they attempted to try to break down the Dons defensive ranks, but in the late stages, it was the Dons that created and spurned a great chance to make it 2-0. While Kane Thompson-Sommers couldn’t connect with Paterson’s cross, the loose ball fell kindly for Rushian Hepburn-Murphy, only for the substitute to wallop a strike from a decent position into the stands.

Despite 7 minutes of stoppage time, MK Dons would hold out, taking the points and providing their fans with a late Christmas present. It also gave them a good start to a busy week that sees them face games with fellow play-off or promotion contenders Notts County, Colchester and Chesterfield.

MK Dons: MacGillivray – Offord, Ekpiteta, Sanders – Jones (Lemonheigh-Evans 88), Collar (Thompson-Sommers 63), Kelly, Gilbey, Nemane (Mellish 63) – Paterson, Collins (Hepburn-Murphy 70)

Subs not used: Trueman, Crowley, Leko

Goal: Nemane (17)

Booked: Collar

Swindon: Ripley – Wright, Knight-Lebel, Tafazoli (Ball 72) – McGregor (Snowdon 60), Nichols, Oldaker (Tabor 88), Kilkenny, Munroe (Palmer 60) – Glatzel, Bodin (Ehibhatiomhan 72)

Subs not used: Ward, Mabete, Tabor

Booked: Munroe, Oldaker