Town made it three wins in three as they defeated Wimbledon 2-1 at the National Hockey Stadium in Milton Keynes. Two goals within a minute of one another 20 minutes from the end scored by Darren Bent and Shefki Kuqi won the Blues the points, Gary Smith notching the Dons' goal.

The Blues lined up as they did against Watford last weekend. Chris Bart-Williams returned to the bench after his recent back problems.

As expected Town took the initiative from the off, Darren Bent turning and shooting on the edge of the box, keeper Scott Bevan tipping the ball round the post for the first of what would be many corners.

Jason Puncheon hit the first Wimbledon effort of the game, the ball cannoning off Fabian Wilnis and flying well over the bar.

The Blues had the ball in the net on 12, Dean Bowditch playing through Darren Bent and the England U21 rounding Bevan before tapping the ball home. Unfortunately for Town, a linesman's flag had been raised.

Dean Bowditch flicked an Ian Westlake corner just wide of goal, before Tommy Miller had a shot from just inside the box deflected wide.

Town won a succession of corners around the 20-minute mark, Matt Elliott coming close to his first Town goal from one when his powerful header struck a defender and went over the bar. Elliott again went close on 26, his header just beating the post.

It was virtually all Town, and on the half hour Ian Westlake's shot from the left was parried by Bevan. Dean Bowditch got to the loose ball first but was flagged offside.

Nine minutes later Jermaine Wright nodded a Westlake cross too close to Bevan who gathered comfortably.

Town had thoroughly dominated the first half without getting the goal they deserved. Wimbledon had been determined if limited but Kelvin Davis hadn't had a save to make.

Dean Bowditch broke well on the right in the 47th minute before playing a ball inside to Jermaine Wright who hit a shot from the edge of the box over the bar.

Bent had the ball in the net for a second time when he reacted first after Tommy Miller's deft header and then flick had come off the bar. Once again a linesman's flag ruled out the goal, Miller having been offside when he ran on to a Magilton pass.

Town continued to look for a goal, Wright shooting over and then Matt Richards's effort giving Bevan little trouble.

Jermaine Darlington shot wide for the Dons in the 56th minute, before Joe Royle decided to make a change. Off came Ian Westlake and on went Shefki Kuqi as Town moved to a three-man attack.

Referee Rob Styles became the centre of attention in the 66th minute when Tommy Miller was fouled well inside the Wimbledon half. Styles failed to award a freekick but then awarded one to the Dons when play switched to the other end.

Miller was still grounded but Styles refused to allow Town physio Dave Williams to treat him. Wimbledon's Dean Lewington seemed perplexed at the situation; Miller still lying deep in the Wimbledon half as he prepared to take the freekick. Eventually, he played the ball out for a throw and to cheers from the Town support — filling two stands and part of a third — allowed Miller some treatment.

Town finally opened the scoring in the 72nd minute, Darren Bent running on to a pass from Jermaine Wright and slipping the ball past Bevan for his fifth goal in the last four games.

Almost immediately, the Blues went two in front. Bowditch made a run down the right and played the ball low across the six-yard box where Shefki Kuqi flicked it home with his heel.

The goals settled a Town crowd which was starting to become both nervous, that a goal might not come, and wet, as the drizzle started to fall on the roofless stands of the National Hockey Stadium.

Wimbledon hit back in the 76th minute after John McGreal had fouled sub Malvin Kamara on the right. Darlington swung over the freekick and full debutant Gary Smith headed home.

Shortly afterwards Tommy Miller — booed by the home fans after the injury incident — picked up a yellow card when he took umbrage at a freekick awarded outside the Town box for a foul on Ben Chorley.

Referee Style appeared to take great pleasure in moving the kick 10 yards nearer goal, from where Jason Puncheon hit the ball high and wide.

With 10 minutes remaining Town went back to 4-4-2 with Chris Bart-Williams replacing Dean Bowditch.

Shefki Kuqi found himself in the referee's book on 80, after a linesman awarded a throw against him. While the Finn was complaining, Dean Lewington pushed him over an advertising hoarding, Kuqi throwing the ball into the ground in protest.

Out came Mr Styles's yellow card for the Town player but Lewington was surprisingly spared a caution.

The last 10 minutes were without goalmouth incident and after three minutes injury time the whistle went. Three points was always going to be the most important thing for Town to get from the game despite the Dons' lowly position and the goal difference boosting possibilities.

Town could have scored more on another day with a number of decisions not going the Blues' way and finishing not always up to standard. Bent took his goal well, as did Kuqi, while it would have been nice to celebrate a rare clean sheet. Once again it was a set piece from which the opposition scored.

Nine points out of nine keeps Town in the running for the play-offs but next week's visit from West Brom will prove a much bigger test than Walsall, Watford and Wimbledon.

Town: Davis, Wilnis, Richards, Elliott, McGreal, Magilton, Wright, Miller, Westlake (Kuqi 66), Bowditch (Bart-Williams 80), Bent.

Photo: Action Images

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