Jon Nolan’s first goal of the season saw Town to a 1-0 victory away against the MK Dons. The midfielder turned home an Emyr Huws cross in the 12th minute to secure the Blues, who remain second in the table, their third win on the road this season.

Huws, Nolan, James Wilson and Luke Garbutt returned to the team for Myles Kenlock, who was left out of the 18, Luke Woolfenden, Gwion Edwards and Alan Judge, who were all on the bench.

Town, with 3,360 fans vociferously backing them from one corner of the ground, appeared to start in a 3-5-2 formation with Skuse at the centre of the back three, matching the home side’s regular system.

However, the Dons instead began the game with one man up and five in midfield, and the Blues almost immediately moved to a diamond with Skuse, who was playing his 250th game for the club, in the deeper lying midfield role.

Huws, who was making his first league start since the final day of the 2016/17 season, was paired with Flynn Downes with Nolan, making his first league start of the campaign ahead of them behind strike pair James Norwood and Kayden Jackson.

Town, wearing their Barcelona-esque away kit, started brightly with Nolan and Garbutt both sending in early crosses from the left which were dealt with by the home defence.

The Blues continued to dominate and Norwood saw a snapshot blocked by a defender on the edge of the box on 11 after Jackson had nodded Skuse’s cross from the left into his path.

A minute later Nolan was unable to get enough on the ball with his header from Norwood’s cross from the right, the striker having played down the flank by Kane Vincent-Young.

But when the ball was sent back in from the other flank by Huws, having been played back to the Welshman by Garbutt, the former Shrewsbury man made no mistake, deftly guiding his first goal of the season into the corner of the net to keeper Lee Nicholls’s left from six yards.

And Town should have doubled their lead in the 19th minute. Skuse won the ball from Conor McGrandles in midfield and Norwood was sent away before feeding Jackson. However, Nicholls was quickly off his line to block from the Blues striker who suffered a knock as the two collided but was OK to carry on.

The Blues continued to prod and probe but without finding their way through with the Dons unable to threaten at the other end.

There was a blow for the Blues in the 35th minute when Norwood was forced off having suffered a knock. The striker looked frustrated to go off as Will Keane took over, his second appearance since rejoining last month.

Town weren’t too far away from a second in the 39th minute when Jackson broke away down the left, cut in and crossed for Vincent-Young, who had burst into the box from right-back but somehow the former Colchester man diverted it the wrong side of the post from six yards.

The home side seriously threatened for the first time two minutes later when a deep cross from the left somehow reached George Williams but the skipper’s unconvincing scuffed effort bobbled wide of the post when Tomas Holy ought to have been tested.

Three minutes of injury time passed without any notable incident - aside from keeper Holy almost allowing a backpass under his foot - and Town were warmly applauded off by their big following.

Boss Paul Lambert will have been happy with the half, his side having been on top throughout and certainly good for their lead against a Dons side who struggled to compete against the Blues midfield.

The only frustration for Town was that the lead hadn’t been bigger with Jackson and Vincent-Young both having had good chances to make it 2-0.

At the other end, Holy hadn’t had a save to make with the Dons’ one opportunity scraped wide by Williams.

MK Dons made two changes ahead of the second half, Jordan Bowery and Callum Brittain taking over from Joe Walsh and one-time Blues target Brennan Dickenson.

Keane struck the second period’s first shot in the 47th minute but straight at Nicholls, who claimed confidently.

The Dons weren’t far from creating an opening on 49 when Brittain beat Skuse and fed the ball through to fellow sub Bowery but just too far in front of the forward, who played for Blues boss Lambert at Aston Villa.

The game was held up in the 52nd minute when Skuse and Downes clashed heads in the middle of the park and both required treatment before carrying on, although with both still appearing to feel the effects for a few minutes.

Once the game had got back under way, Keane tussled for the ball inside the Dons’ half, then fed Downes to his right but the midfielder’s low strike was too close to Nicholls.

However, it was the home side who had presented the greater threat since the break and in the 59th minute the Blues were fortunate not to concede during a goalmouth scramble following a corner, which Huws had contested and as a result was shown a yellow card.

First Holy saved from McGrandles, who had been found in space, and then only desperate defending kept the ball out of the Blues’ net.

With the Town midfield, featuring a number of players on the way back after injury absences, appearing to tire, the MK Dons were pinning the Blues back in their area.

Holy saved Bowery’s effort from distance before the Dons’ crowd - but not the players - appealed for a penalty when a cross was hit against Huws’s midriff.

Georgiou replaced Huws, who had played a big part in Town dominating the first half, in the 67th minute. The Wales international will have been pleased to get so much of a league game under his belt as he continues his comeback after his long spell out.

Town continued to find themselves pushed back in their own half but with the defence remaining resolute. On 74 David Kasumu shot well over from distance. Moments later, Edwards took over from Jackson, the Welshman taking up a role wide on the right.

Three minutes later, Nolan appeared to dislocate a finger when colliding with a defender and required treatment.

Town created their first real opening of the second half in the 78th minute when Nolan was sent away down the left. His cross was behind Keane but reached Edwards beyond the far post from where the sub struck a shot which hit a defender and flew behind.

Holy was forced to make his best stop of the evening in the 80th minute. McGrandles nodded a ball from deep back and down to Jordan Houghton on the right of the box, from where the ex-Chelsea youngster hit a low shot and Holy reacted quickly to divert it wide of his right post.

Regan Poole was booked for a foul on Nolan in the 82nd minute, then two minutes later Chambers headed Georgiou’s corner from the left over the bar as the pressure began to relent.

The Dons switched midfielder Hiram Boateng for striker Kieran Agard for the final five minutes, then Sam Nombe curled a shot high and wide.

As the game moved into its final scheduled minute, Houghton hit a freekick from the right which Holy helped over, only for referee Swabey to give a goalkick, much to the annoyance of the home fans.

The official added seven minutes of additional time in which Downes was booked for dissent after the linesman had missed what looked an obvious foul.

Holy claimed a dangerous-looking cross comfortably, then Poole headed over from a Brittain corner as time began to run out for the home team.

The Blues saw out the remaining minutes of the game to secure their third away win of the season.

At the whistle the players and manager Lambert went over to applaud the big away following, who had made themselves heard throughout, with the Blues boss emulating skipper Chambers's traditional victory fist pump.

Having been well on top in the first half, Town were forced to dig deep defensively in the second half as their midfield tired and the home side upped their game.

But the Blues’ backline remained solid - with Wilson perhaps the standout performer - and Holy made the saves required on the few occasions when the Dons broke through. Town have now not conceded a goal in their last four League One games.

The result sees Town remain unbeaten, still second with a game in hand - leaders Coventry scored a late winner at home to AFC Wimbledon - with a visit to Gillingham to follow on Saturday.

MK Dons: Nicholls, Williams (c), Walsh (Bowery 46), Houghton, Poole, Martin, McGrandles, Kasumu, Boateng (Agard 85), Dickenson (Brittain 46), Nombe. Unused: Moore, Lewington, Gilbey, Harley.

Town: Holy, Chambers (c), Skuse, Wilson, Vincent-Young, Downes, Huws (Georgiou 67), Garbutt, Nolan, Jackson (Edwards 75), Norwood (Keane 35). Unused: Norris, Judge, Dozzell, Woolfenden. Ref: Lee Swabey (Devon). Att: 10,167 (Town: 3,360).

Photo: Pagepix

ringwoodblue added 22:39 - Sep 17 Brilliant result and fantastic to keep the momentum going. How many league one and indeed championship sides would have 3600 away fans attend a midweek game? - phenomenal support, well done to each and every one. Get fit soon James Norwood.
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ringwoodblue added 22:41 - Sep 17 3360 away fans I meant
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Bildestoned added 22:55 - Sep 17 As far as ‘tinkering with the lineup' the formation looked awesome in the first half. Everybody SO comfortable on the ball. But...that second half was so tense! What a racket we made too. The PA was so rubbish I didn't hear the away support numbers.
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BlueandTruesince82 added 22:57 - Sep 17 We were lucky tonight, came up against opposition who couldn't create many clear cut chances in the final third despite having plenty of opportunities to do so. We would have been found out by better sides playing like that. Keane looks a long way short of being match fit and first 20 mins apart we were 2nd to almost every loose ball, header etc. Too hesitant on the counter, when we should be breaking the player with the ball always has to put his foot on it or drag it back and slow the play to search for a pass and then the opportunity is gone.. KVY the one exception but even he was guilty. Given the pace we have there is no need for that and it can only be lacking in confidence... To often letting the opposition get back ahead of play when we need to be incisive . Nolan, KVY and Downes the pick for us but for 70 mins I was chewing my nails. None the less we won away from home and not at our best and that is the main thing so I can't complain too much. Finally the support. I cannot believe we only had 3k in there tonight, looked and sounded more, perhaps because we were in a corner together and first half especially it felt like a home game. As always Town have the best away support in the land. We won, take the 3 points and move on but let's not convince ourselves we are going to walk this yet because we were 2nd best for 70 mins and clung on thanks to the Don's inability to do much with the ball when they did get into good positions and a couple of shocking misses when they should have scored. Still. COYB

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budgieplucker added 23:06 - Sep 17 Was at the match and my first visit to the very impressive MK Stadium. Support was phenomenal, now you expect to come under some pressure away from home but 2nd half we should have really done better, we let them get in our faces and I think we were lucky not to concede. Poor decision making from both Downes and Edwards for the only two real openings we could muster in the whole second half, they both attempted shots from tight angles when Downes should have crossed it to the back post with Jackson steaming in and the second chance Edwards should have pulled it back for Keane. You may not get many chances away from home but you should do better otherwise you end up backs to the wall like we did. Dominated in the first half with Huws pulling the strings, Norwood and Jackson both looked off the pace, but well done Jon Nolan for converting the only real chance we had, never really tested the goalkeeper otherwise. Every time we broke into their half we seemed to stop and pt our fort on it and then returned backward into our own half. Huws, Nolan and Wilson all put in fine performances, first half Skuse his effective self but second half Downes and Skuse overrun in midfield after Hughes went off. Garbutt also did well and looked comfortable at left back/wing back. We seem to lack fluency when we get into the opposition half and I have to disagree with a number of comments on here, we are not going to steamroller this division unless we can up the tempo at all, seems like we are playing with only 1 & 1/2 gears at the moment and struggle to move up. Of course we are going to get beaten sometime that's inevitable but yes the defence had to work hard tonight, unless we become more clinical and create more chances it could be tortuous watching us, second half it was very much counting the clock down and chewing the finger nails, we didn't keep them at arms length.

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Tellitasitis added 23:10 - Sep 17 Great away win, a clean sheet what more can you ask for would expect the next 2 games to bring in another 6 point but I would take 4 points all day long. Keep it up lads you are proving alot of so call fans wrong .
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Nobbysnuts added 23:14 - Sep 17 Brilliant result boys. Great to see garbutt back. Hope the injury to norwood isn't to serious and he was only taken off as a precaution. Coyb.👍👍👍 brilliant support again.
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budgieplucker added 23:48 - Sep 17 Just one other comment to add to my offering above, I do think the maroon kit is very drab we could have and should have played in blue tonight. I know often some officials don't like teams both wearing the same colour shorts, this strangely didn't cause a problem on Saturday when Doncaster played in white shorts as well. However we could have worn blue shorts tonight if that had been an issue, think blue is brighter and much easier to pick out under the floodlights then the drab maroon.

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WorcesterBlue added 00:07 - Sep 18 Great start with Huws in particular looking quality. Would have stuck with the formation as once we changed we lacked enough width and let them back in a bit. But could have been 2 or 3 up by half time. Respect to Tisdale who made tactical changes (wheareas we didn't) and we rode our luck second half. Wilson brilliant in particular. All in all chuffed with the points but we need to toughen up in key areas and put these chances away. Great to see Huws back - different class 👍

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stevieiriswattii added 00:26 - Sep 18 The first half was as good as Sunderland at home. Short, quick passing, holding the ball, movement. Yes, we faded in the second half, we looked knackered, but there is fight there, spirt and squad players, or those returning from injury are fitting in well. We have a bit of luck with us at the moment, but I'll take that. The MK stadium is impressive, but i can't believe there were 6500 plus MK fans there! Despite the crappy drive there, a great evening. COYB.

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shumiheaven added 06:24 - Sep 18 Lambert is drip feeding players back in to get everyone gradually up to match fitness....Nolan & Huws hardly played...Garbutt back after months' lay off...Keane nowhere near fit but getting nearly an hour will help & Wilson, imo, man of the match despite playing in fits/starts....understandably we tired and just about saw it out with our front 2 and Huws off the field but still much to enfuse about, fantastic support on the road so heading to Kent on Saturday in confident mood

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delias_cheesy_flaps added 06:33 - Sep 18 Great support, a win, a good first half display that deserved and should have been more. A polar opposite display for the second half, in the end we were lucky to keep a clean sheet thanks to rank amateur finishing. Where did our passing game go to? The defence looked good but we really take too many touches as a team when going forward, we have to be more incisive and convert 1 on 1s. Have to do a lot better over 90 minutes.

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Orraman added 08:41 - Sep 18 I recall several posts on here back in the summer about signing Wilson. Why are we signing someone who can't even get in Lincoln City team. - just shows the level we have dropped to etc etc. Well Wilson showed last night just what he is all about. He never put a foot wrong and played his part in yet another clean sheet. Another good away win although an extremely nail biting last ten minutes. Good all round display from everyone including our now renowned away support.

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ThaiBlue added 08:56 - Sep 18 very good first half,thought wilson young and nolan were very good.second half was a bit poor and mk were unlucky not to nick a point.hope norwood is not to serious as kane looked poor.great support to.got to say thought russell was class for mk.
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BuckieBlue added 09:27 - Sep 18 Being up here in Scotland not at games so what's our great defensive record so far down to? Holy, centre backs, Skuse's cover- all of these?
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londontractor85 added 09:41 - Sep 18 First half, I thought we moved the ball around very well. I'd love to see the possession stat on that! Second half was frustrating, all the flow of the first half vanished and we allowed MK to back into the game. I think we lacked something in the final 3rd of the pitch in both halves... Still a wins a win and the support/atmosphere in our end was phenomenal as usual!

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dirtydingusmagee added 11:38 - Sep 18 whats the news on Norwood ?
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ArnieM added 12:10 - Sep 18 Excellent result last night. But when are we going to be more clinical and put teams to the sword? For one, my old ticker, wont take too many second halves like the One I witnessed last night. Our starting formation was absolutely killing them. So why change it ?? From then on we looked at times rudderless, and especially 8n the second half, when naturally they would come at us. Our strikers were starved of service, not for the first time this season, due to lack of cutting thrust from the wings- yet we have those players to provide this in our squad. So why not play them? But not too be too critical. Make n9 mistake those 3 points last night were simply awesome. The quality of a team can be measured by their ability to gain points when not playing particularly well. Which we didn't do vs Doncaster, and in the second half last night. When Town find their feet in this division, someone is going to get a complete battering. I look forward to that day coming soon. COYBs

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nathitfc89 added 13:26 - Sep 18 first half was great to watch, comfortable on the ball, lovely quick passing, had MK Dons looking like a pub team.....second half, well the less said about that the better. But if we are picking up points and still not playing the best then surely that is a good sign??
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runningout added 14:17 - Sep 18 Naive to be too optimistic in football about team and individuals. Onwards and .....
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rugbytomc added 16:39 - Sep 18 Funny how people at the same game can see so many different things - I agree with a lot of what's been written but not all of it. For me - MK could get nowhere near us the way we started and that was down to us not them. Yes would have been great if Jackson or KVY's chances had gone in but that happens. How many minutes have we played without Norwood though? Not many I would hazard a guess, so with that in mind as well as Huws/Nolan/Keane not having started games this season, it's not surprising we looked at times like a team that hasn't played together much. Against Posh we came out firing then let them back in and we missed a Huws/Dozzell/Bishop to put their foot on the ball and control it. When things got away from us second half - had there been no injury to Norwood, perhaps we would have seen Dozzell or Judge come on. As it was - Huws looked understandably rusty then very tired and Keane too, so i am glad we got away with the win because those two will benefit massively from those minutes. Garbutt too - his first minutes at left back/left wing back. Without waffling too much - we need a taller centre back. Please buy James Wilson stilts and he'd be perfect! I don't think we won a single header all night! Keane included! It was a great game to watch. Our first half was purring with class and a joy to watch and we scrapped it out second. And for all of those there - how fantastic was the Chambo fist pump followed by lengthy Lambert celebrations?! "Paul Lambert is a blue......" brilliant

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