MK Dons were beaten 1-0 at home by Salford City, with their former boss Karl Robinson picking up a second win of the season against the Dons.
Hakeeb Adelakun scored the only goal, with a strike that he flicked home just after the half-hour mark to win the game for the in-form visitors.
While victory saw Salford make it 6 wins in a row, all without conceding, MK Dons’ inconsistent form continued. The team are now on a run of one win in six matches, with Scott Lindsey’s side 12th in the League Two table and five points off the play-offs, though with at least one game in hand on several teams above them.
Having returned to winning ways after four without success in their trip to Chesterfield on New Year’s Day, the Dons’ first assignment of 2025 saw them welcome Salford, who had won their previous five games with a clean sheet in each game.
The in-form visitors gave MK Dons early notice of their intent, with Adelakun squaring for Cole Stockton to narrowly head the ball wide of the target.
An open contest saw MK Dons be next to try their luck, with Liam Kelly advancing before firing a strike that just missed the target.
Salford keeper Matt Young then made a stop to deny the Dons’ former Salford striker Callum Hendry, while at the other end, Tom McGill made the save to deny Stockton.
Hendry would see a strike blocked before Ellis Harrison headed wide when well placed, before a great chance for the hosts saw Joe Tomlinson’s header hit the side netting from Alex Gilbey’s cross.
Salford had a period of creating chances after that, with Adelakun and Stockton seeing strikes narrowly miss the target, while Harrison saw an effort after a decent run fired straight at Young.
But with 34 minutes on the clock, Salford opened the deadlock. Liam Shephard’s deflected cross seemed to fall in line for McGill to claim, but Adelakun got there first and a subtle touch from the Salford attacker was enough to divert the ball into the back of the net.
Curtis Tilt could’ve added to the Dons’ misery in first half stoppage time, as the visitor’s captain charged forward before hitting a long range shot that McGill held at the second attempt.
Ryan Watson walloped a shot off target against his former club after the break, before Hendry lashed his own first-time strike from outside the box off target.
The Dons created their best chance in the aftermath of falling behind in the opening 15 minutes of the second half. Set-up work by Aaron Nemane and Kelly teed up Gilbey, who had a snapshot held by Young.
Tilt would see a strike from outside the box hit the post for the visitors, while at the other end, Young held two efforts by the Dons’ Joe White.
Salford missed two fine chances for a second as Kevin Berkoe and Tyrese Fornah lashed off target when well placed. In-between these two opportunities, MK Dons got close as Hendry’s flick-on at a corner failed to beat Young.
But despite six minutes of added time being played, MK Dons ran out of time as they slipped to defeat at home, and giving Lindsey plenty to ponder ahead of a trip to face his predecessor Mike Williamson and his Carlisle United side next weekend.
MK Dons: McGill – Offord, Lawrence, Sherring – Nemane (Ilunga 69), White, Kelly (Hogan 69), Tomlinson – Hendry, Harrison, Kelly
Subs not used: MacGillivray, Williams, Carroll, Tripp, Waller
Salford: Young – Shephard, Tilt, Garbutt – Mnoga (Taylor 83), Watson (Lund 75), Ashley, Fornah, Berkoe (Negru 83) – Adelakun (McAleny 90+4), Stockton (Kouassi 83)
Subs not used: Jones, Edwards
Booked: Ashley, Tilt, Watson