
MK Dons played out a draw with Portsmouth as the two sides drew 1-1 in the Dons’ first home pre-season friendly.
Former MK Dons winger Josh Murphy gave the visitors an early lead, before Tommy Leigh equalised just after the hour.
The Dons had a smattering of chances to take victory, but nevertheless had their moments as they held out against a side that are preparing to compete in next season’s Championship.
Having started their pre-season with games against Barnet, German side Hannover’s B-team, Chelmsford City and Wealdstone, the Dons turned their attention to a pair of home friendlies against Championship opposition in their final preparations for the League Two season kick-off.
Last season’s League One champions Portsmouth were the first, with Pompey making the trip to Milton Keynes in a midweek encounter at Stadium MK.
The game was the first chance for the Dons to field some of their new recruits at Stadium MK, with seven starting and two on the bench.
But it was the visitors who took the lead. After winning the ball high-up, a Portsmouth passing move saw the ball worked for Murphy, whose shot took a deflection off Sam Sherring that wrong-footed goalkeeper Tom McGill and bobbled in.
On a super hot evening in Milton Keynes, the Championship-bound visitors were having their moments but while they winning the ball high up, they weren’t creating too many chances, with the best seeing a shot by Paddy Lane blocked by Laurence Maguire.
It took the Dons around 20 minutes to create their first major chance, but they very nearly made the most of it. Space opened up for Conor Grant, and his strike from the edge of the box was tipped wide by Will Norris.
Portsmouth responded with a few chances of their own, as a hit from the wide area by Sammy Silvera nearly arced it’s way into the net before Ryley Towler’s header from a corner just crept wide.
The visitors continued to look dangerous but MK Dons were having their moments. A through-pass by Leigh nearly sat kindly for Callum Hendry, but the Dons maintained pressure and Leigh bent a shot just wide.
Half-time sub Matt Dennis saw a low shot creep just wide in the opening minutes of the first half.
Dennis would later see a goal disallowed for a foul on Towler, with this coming after a period where the Dons had begun to see more of the ball without creating many opportunities.
The hosts came very close when a low hit by Joe Tomlinson was tipped wide by Norris. But a few moments later, the hosts would equalise. A smart low pass by Carroll released Leigh, who was able to dispatch a fine shot into the net for a Dons equaliser.
This was the cue for the Dons to make six substitutions, which did affect the flow a little. But the Dons nearly had an opening as Carroll intercepted a loose pass. He found Alex Gilbey, who saw an effort denied by Norris.
Norris was then also on hand to keep out Dennis after he was able to break down the flank.
Both sides looked to push for a late winner. Norris in the Portsmouth goal did well to deny Wearne’s strike, before the same man had a shot blocked when found by a searching ball.
Portsmouth nearly won the game right at the end when Jack Tucker lost possession and substitute Callum Lang was denied by Tom McGill, as the game ended all square.
MK Dons: McGill – Sherring (Pritchard 63, Offord (Kelly 63), Maguire (Lewington 63) – Tripp, Carroll (Lewis-Burgess 84), Williams (Tucker 45), Tomlinson (Wearne 63) – Leigh (Harrison 63), Grant (Gilbey 63) – Hendry (Dennis 45)
Subs not used: Harness, Silver, Singh-Hurditt, Stirland
Goal: Leigh (62)
Booked: Carroll
Portsmouth: Norris – Williams (Swanson 79), Shaugnessy (Stevenson 79), Towler, Ogilvie – Pack, Lowery (Moxon 79) – Lane (Lang 63), Silvera (Devlin 79), Murphy (Whyte 79) – Yengi (Saydee 79)
Subs not used: Devlin
Goal: Murphy (3)
Booked: Shaugnessy