Town ended their home campaign with a 3-2 victory over the MK Dons. David McGoldrick put the Blues in front on 16 but conceded a penalty just before the break from which Alex Revell equalised. Brett Pitman put Town back in front on 68, Revell equalised again six minutes later before Luke Varney won it in the final minute.
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 already-relegated MK Dons, who were playing their first ever game at Portman Road, 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 Kenlock 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 Kevin 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.
McGoldrick scuffed a shot from 25 yards through to Burns, then on 41 Bishop burst into the box but was ultimately stopped in his tracks.
But the visitors had grown on confidence having levelled and on 52 Carruthers hit a shot across Gerken, which the keeper pushed away from goal to his left.
As the game moved past the hour mark the ball fell to Bishop just inside the area after good work from McGoldrick on the left, but the 19-year-old scraped his shot wide. As had been planned before the game Bishop made way on 63 with Pitman taking over.
Soon after the change, Freddie Sears broke into the area on the left and hit a shot across Burns, which the keeper did well to palm behind, however, referee Keith Stroud inexplicably awarded a goalkick.
A banner bearing the legend ‘No ambition = bored fans’ briefly appeared in the Sir Bobby Robson Stand, then on 68 the Blues restored their lead.
Bru whipped over a freekick from the right after Feeney had been fouled and sub Pitman flicked home his 11th goal of the season. With Daryl Murphy not expected to play for Town again this season due to his calf injury, the summer signing from Bournemouth now seems certain to be the club’s top scorer.
The Blues had been less dominant after the break but having scored their second goal their self-belief seemed to return and they went looking for a third.
On 71 Pitman won a number of tackles while grounded on the edge of the box and fed Bru, who rode a challenge and curled a shot wide.
However, two minutes later, the visitors again pulled level. Murphy sent in a freekick from deep and Revell got in behind the Blues’ backline to poke past Gerken. While Town prepared to take the centre Varney took over from Feeney.
On 78 former Blue Bowditch was applauded off by his old fans and was replaced by Nicky Maynard.
As the game moved into its final 10 minutes Bru shot well over after good work from Pitman, then Kenlock cut in from the left and curled an effort just over.
Smith was booked for a foul on Murphy in the 87th minute and from the freekick, which the winger took himself, Kevin Long headed wide.
As the match moved into its final scheduled minute, the Blues scored a third home goal for the first time this season to claim the three points and their first win in eight.
League debutant Kenlock crossed from deep on the left and Varney nodded home his first goal of the campaign from close range.
There was no chance for the MK Dons to hit back and referee Stroud confirmed the Blues’ victory, their ninth at home this season.
In truth it ought to have been a more comfortable win, particularly after McGoldrick, who had revelled in the space he was afforded in the first half, had put the Blues in front.
The somewhat needless penalty from which the visitors equalised saw the Dons come out more confident after the break but the Blues again got on top and went ahead again through Pitman.
The defending for Revell’s second equaliser will have disappointed the Town management. But as ever the Blues kept going and deserved their winner when it came via Varney.
Following the match, the players, joined by their children, and the staff made the traditional lap of appreciation round the pitch receiving warm applause from those fans who had remained behind.
Town, who can now only finish in their current position of eighth or seventh, complete their 2015/16 season when they travel to Derby County next Saturday lunchtime.
Town: Gerken, Emmanuel, Smith, Berra, Kenlock, Skuse (c), Bru, Bishop (Pitman 63), Feeney (Varney 74), Sears, McGoldrick. Unused: Bialkowski, Digby, Foley, McDonnell, Hyam.
MK Dons: Burns, Baldock, Long, Walsh, Lewington (c), Potter, Carruthers (Baker 66), Powell, Bowditch (Maynard 78), Murphy, Revell (Furlong 88). Unused: Spence, McFadzean, Jackson, Kasumu. Referee: Keith Stroud (Hampshire). 19,631 (MK Dons: 489).