MK Dons draw again after goalless match at AFC Wimbledon

MK Dons played out their sixth draw in their opening seven games of the new season after a 0-0 stalemate at AFC Wimbledon.

An even game saw neither one of the post-Wimbledon rivals find a decisive strike, in a match that saw both sides have penalty appeals denied but where a lack of shots on target held back both teams’ attempts to find a decisive breakthrough.

The draw means that MK Dons are still waiting on their first win of the new season in League One, having picked up six points from their opening seven outings.

On a Thursday night in front of the Sky cameras, MK Dons arrived still waiting on their first win of the new campaign. Paul Warne’s side faced a test against an AFC Wimbledon side who’d won three of their previous four outings and were still yet to concede a home game.

A Dons side featuring debutant Elijah Campbell initially found themselves on the back foot, with the best early chances falling the way of the home side.

Myles Hippolyte’s flicked header released Callum Maycock, who broke through but blasted an effort over the top. A few moments after that, Jayden Stockley’s header fell for Steve Seddon but he could only thump a strike straight at MK Dons keeper Will Dennis.

But the visitors improved after that, with home keeper Joe Bursik making good saves to deny strikes by Sam Nombe and Callum Paterson.

In the final stages of the first half, both sides then had strong penalty appeals rejected by the referee. Curtis Nelson was accused of handball as he appeared to handle the ball while falling in defending a free-kick, while the very last act of the half saw Dan Crowley go down after contact from Stockley. On both occasions, the referee deemed no further action required.

The second half would prove to be a tighter affair, although the opening stages saw a few battles check the momentum. First, Cohen Bramall saw yellow for an off-the-ball shove on AFC’s Steven Sessegnon, before Stockley was perhaps fortunate to avoid getting any card after seemingly treading on Alex Gilbey’s calf during a scuffle between the two.

MK Dons would then have a phase of looking likelier to find the breakthrough, though the best chance would see Aaron Collins head wide.

It was then AFC Wimbledon’s turn to have some chances, as Ali Smith saw a long-ranger narrowly miss the target before a dangerous cross seemed on a plate for Stockley only for the veteran striker to narrowly fail to connect.

But ultimately, neither side were able to find themselves a goal that would’ve almost certainly have been a winner in the final stages, and the game ended without a goal.

MK Dons now face a week of 16 days until their next league game after international call-ups postponed their games against Bromley and Barnsley. The Dons’ next league outing will see Reading visit Stadium MK on October 10.