Fleetwood Town 0-3 MK Dons
Fleetwood Town succumbed to a 3-0 home defeat at the hands of MK Dons at Highbury on Tuesday evening.Three goals in the second half from Lewis Baker, Will Grigg and Dele Alli ensured that the points returned to MK1.
Graham Alexander handed a first Cod Army start to youngster Ashley Hunter, with Conor McLaughlin also returning to the first-team set up.
The visitors would carve out the first chance of the game inside the first minute, as Rob Hall tested Chris Maxwell with a driven effort.
Josh Morris would be the first to try his luck for Fleetwood on the quarter hour mark, as he collected a pass from Hunter before seeing an effort skim past David Martin’s post.
Shortly after, Kyle McFadzean hit an effort from around 20-yards, in which Maxwell had to dive full stretch to keep out.
Lewis Baker also went close for Karl Robinson’s men, but the on-loan Chelsea midfielder saw his rasping strike from 25-yards crash off the bar and away to safety.
Town themselves went close to opening the scoring on the half-hour mark, though Gareth Evans cannoned his shot off the crossbar following Morris’ cross from the left.
Hall would once again go onto test Maxwell, with the on-loan Bolton Wanderers man cutting in from the left and drilling a shot at the Welshman.
Will Grigg then spurned a great chance for the Dons with five minutes of the first half to play, as he dragged an effort wide from close range.
As the second-half commenced, Fleetwood were quick out of the traps, but following a mazy run, full-back Adam Chicksen could only blaze his right-footed shot into the Memorial stand.
Antoni Sarcevic later beat several challenges to take the ball to the by-line, and played the ball to Gareth Evans who drilled over.
With 55 minutes on the clock, the visitors would take the lead courtesy of Baker, who prodded the ball home from close range after Alli diverted Hall’s cross into Baker’s path.
The goal seemed to spur the promotion hopefuls on, with both Grigg and Alli forcing Maxwell into fine saves from close range.
On the hour, Maxwell was Fleetwood’s saviour again, as he clawed Antony Kay’s effort off the line, with the rebound put wide by Grigg.
The visitors then had David Martin to thank for preserving their advantage, as he managed to get a fingertip to Josh Morris’ fierce drive.
MK Dons added their second goal after 74 minutes, when Grigg dispossessed Stevie Jordan and fired a low strike beyond the reach of Maxwell.
It was three just two minutes later, with Alli netting a stunning half-volley into the top corner from 20 yards.