Report: MK Dons vs. Bolton WanderersA second half strike from Rhys Healey gifted the three points to MK Dons after ran out 1-0 winners against Bolton Wanderers.
Keith Hill made two changes to the starting XI with midfielder Ali Crawford making his long-awaited return from injury while Jacob Mellis also came into the starting line-up with Josh Emmanuel and Chris O’Grady dropping to the bench,
Remi Matthews was on hand to turn away an early opportunity from Healey whose low, angled drive was turned away by the Wanderers ‘keeper.
Crawford’s in-swinging free-kick was glanced towards his own goal by the head of George Williams but Lee Nicholls in the Dons’ goal was able to safely gather the ball.
Healey then cut inside from the left but couldn't find an opening for a shot before the ball broke loose to Louis Thompson whose curling effort went narrowly wide from 20 yards.
Crawford gained possession in midfield and then found Jason Lowe over on the right-hand side, but his cross into the box was claimed comfortably by Nicholls.
At the other end, after latching onto Ben Reeves' cross, Healey’s header went narrowly over the bar.
Ethan Hamilton did well to keep control of the ball and find Lowe, but his dangerous low cross didn’t connect with any Wanderers player and the chance went begging.
The visitors looked for a penalty went Dennis Politic went down after he collided with Healey after latching onto Mellis’ pass, but the referee allowed play to continue.
Alex Gilbey did well to run into the box and pull the ball back to for Carlton Morris, but he saw his shot from 10 yards out blocked by the Wanderers defence.
Crawford, looking very energetic upon his return to action, saw Nicholls hold onto his long-range curling effort after picking up Daryl Murphy’s flick-on.
Deep into time added-on, Matthews was forced into making a vital save to keep out Morris after Crawford lost possession with a loose pass.
Early into the second half, the hosts found themselves with a good opportunity to break the deadlock when Ben Reeves' free-kick into the box was headed across goal by Jordan Moore-Taylor but Matthews rose the highest to claim the loose ball.
Meanwhile, at the other end, a superb through ball from Hamilton sent Politic away down the left but after cutting into the box, the young Romanian was held up by a couple of Dons’ defenders before he eventually lost possession.
Hill made his first change of the afternoon just before the hour with Sonny Graham coming on for Mellis.
Politic tried his luck from just outside the box but his well-struck shot sailed over the bar after he did well to carve open the opportunity.
Crawford produced a beautiful lob over the top of the Dons’ defence to put Daryl Murphy in, but the big Irishman saw his half volley go inches wide of the far post.
The hosts took the lead shortly afterwards through Healey whose angled drive squirmed underneath the body of Matthews.
Wanderers made another change with Emmanuel coming on for Crawford with just over fifteen minutes of the contest remaining, with Joe Dodoo replacing Hamilton shortly afterwards.
Politic had an opportunity to level scores when he charged into the box and unleashed a shot towards goal, but Nicholls managed to keep the effort out to preserve his team’s narrow lead.
Matthews then made a great save to keep out Alex Gilbey after he surged into the box and looked set on increasing the Dons’ lead.
The Wanderers’ keeper made another fine save to keep out an injury-time strike off Healey, who was looking keen to add to his tally.
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