MK Dons 3 Gillingham 2 - League 2 match report from Stadium MK

Gillingham scored twice late on at MK Dons but had given themselves too much to do as they were beaten again.

MK Dons took a sixth-minute lead after Sam Gale inadvertently diverted Laurence Maguire’s effort past his own keeper. The hosts extended their lead in the second half through Nathaniel Mendez-Laing and Callum Paterson before Seb Palmer-Houlden and Jonny Williams pulled goals back for Gillingham.

The Gills were without manager Gareth Ainsworth following his heart surgery the day before. It was left to assistant boss Richard Dobson to lead the team at Stadium MK.

It wasn’t the best of starts as the Gills continued their worrying recent trend of conceding early goals. The defence was opened up on several occasions in the second half before the Gills threatened a late fightback.

Gillingham had lined up with a change of formation as Shad Ogie came in as a third central defender. Aaron Rowe made his first league start of the season as he replaced Max Clark in the team to play as left wing-back.

Bradley Dack and Jonny Smith both missed the trip with Ethan Coleman getting a recall to the starting eleven.

Within six minutes the Gills were behind. A cross from the right was played back into the path of Maguire and his attempt was diverted past Glenn Morris by unfortunate defender Gale.

Maguire was only in the MK team as a late replacement for Scott Hogan, who got injured in the warm-up.

The Gills didn’t have much joy going forward themselves in the opening half, lacking quality with their delivery. Andy Smith had their only effort at goal, getting on the end of a long throw at the near post but missing the target.

The Dons bossed the shot count 8-1 in the opening half but their quality on the finish wasn’t great.

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