David McGoldrick put the Blues in front in the 16th minute but then conceded a penalty moments before the break which was converted by Alex Revell with Town’s final home game of the season 1-1 at half-time.
Town made five changes from the team which drew 0-0 at Middlesbrough last week with Teddy Bishop, Josh Emmanuel, Myles Kenlock, Dean Gerken and Christophe Berra all starting.
Luke Chambers (ankle) and Jonas Knudsen (knee) were both left out, while Bartosz Bialkowski, Paul Digby and Luke Hyam all dropped to the bench. Kenlock was making his league debut and Bishop his first senior start of the season.
The MK Dons included ex-Blue Dean Bowditch but there was no place in the 18 for on-loan QPR man Jay Emmanuel-Thomas or former Town keeper Cody Cropper, while Jonny Williams’s loan spell ended last week.
Prior to kick-off You’ll Never Walk Alone was played over the PA in tribute to the 96 who died at Hillsborough with fans standing and applauding.
After a quiet start to the game the Blues threatened first in the 12th minute when Emmanuel found himself space on the right and crossed to Kenlock, who looped a header not far over the crossbar.
Town were beginning to put the visitors under pressure and on 15 McGoldrick was found in space on the left of the area but his shot was deflected behind.
But the Republic of Ireland international didn’t have to wait too long for his first goal since the Brighton game on August 29th.
Feeney played the ball in from the left to Sears, who crossed on the turn to McGoldrick, who deftly touched the ball into the net.
The Blues twice went close to making it 2-0 in the 20th minute. First Emmanuel found McGoldrick, whose shot was palmed away by 20-year-old MK Dons keeper Charlie Burns to his right, then after Kevin Bru had cut back from the left Burns, making only his second senior start, saved to his left from Bishop. From the resultant corner an unmarked Berra flicked a header wide.
Three minutes later Daniel Powell hit the visitors’ first effort of the afternoon wide, then Bru shot well over from distance for the Blues.
Powell picked up the game’s first yellow card in the 35th minute for a cynical pull on Kenlock after the 19-year-old had beaten him and was about to take the ball into the area. A minute later, Berra headed wide from a Bru corner on the left.
On 39 Josh Murphy did well down the MK left but his low cross was too far in front of Alex Revell.
As the half moved into injury time the visitors drew level from the penalty spot. Samir Carruthers was being held up inside the area on the left by Tommy Smith and as he looked to cut inside the centre-half McGoldrick rushed in and sent the midfielder tumbling.
There was little doubt it was a penalty and Revell dispatched the spotkick, sending the ball to his left and Gerken to his right.
The whistle went soon afterwards to end a half which ought to have finished with the Blues in front and would have done but for McGoldrick’s rather injudicious challenge.
Prior to that, aside from a few dangerous Murphy crosses, Town had been well in control for the most part and having gone in front via McGoldrick’s well-taken goal looked like they were on their way to a comfortable home win, having had opportunities to increase their advantage.
Town: Gerken, Emmanuel, Smith, Berra, Kenlock, Skuse (c), Bru, Bishop, Feeney, Sears, McGoldrick. Subs: Bialkowski, Digby, Foley, McDonnell, Hyam, Varney, Pitman.
MK Dons: Burns, Baldock, Long, Walsh, Lewington (c), Potter, Carruthers, Powell, Bowditch, Murphy, Revell. Subs: Spence, McFadzean, Jackson, Kasumu, Baker, Furlong, Maynard. Referee: Keith Stroud (Hampshire).