Despite the win, MK Dons were shown up against a talented Barnet

As you travel to Barnet, you pass the famous Wembley arch. It is every club’s dream to play at the home of English Football, which is what awaits in the latter stages of the FA Cup. However, Barnet and MK Dons both had their sights on a potentially lucrative 3rd Round spot.

Both sides lined up with experience in the side, in what was a well fought tie. In the MK Dons side, Dean Lewington, Andrew Surman and Richard Keogh all have featured in many an FA Cup tie, but Scott Loach, Ben Nugent, and Anthony Wordsworth also bring a wealthy of experience to a Barnet side who were out to topple another League One side.

Barnet had the first chance of the game after a handful of seconds, as Alex McQueen broke into the box. His powerful shot was at keeper Lee Nicholls, who parried clear. Other than this, the opening 10 minutes was uneventful, however both teams were committed, and weren’t going to back out of anything.

It was a first half an hour where defences were on top. For MK Dons, Lewington was commanding. He put in some key headers, and physically dominated the Barnet attack, who were struggling to break through. However he was lucky in the 20th after a hand to the face of Ephron Mason-Clark, was spotted by everyone else, except the officials.

Nugent’s presence at the back was key for Barnet. His leadership, and command of the defence around him was apparent, he was guiding and pulling the strings at the back. Nugent’s positioning was key, and he always seemed in the right place to clear the ball, or break up play.

The Dons ended the half stronger, and could have scored, when a blocked ball found Regan Poole inside the box. His first time shot cannoned off the bar, bouncing on the line. A few minutes later, Stephen Walker had a shot that crept just over the bar. The first half drew to a close, with Dons edging the last few minutes.

Barnet started the half like the first, energetic, and driving forward. JJ Hooper, had an effort from 25 yards, after Keogh failed to header clear. The shot was high over the bar, but it gave Barnet a bit of momentum, as they started to click going forward, and looked threatening early on in the second half.

Dons responded well, and nearly scored from a corner after a shot was deflected over. The corner was headed at goal, however it was weak, and cleared. Any power, and you feel the Dons would have been in-front.

It was end to end in the second half, with Michael Petrasso being played down the left after some good build-up from Wordsworth and James Dunne. Petrasso turned his man, but his shot was blocked resulting in a corner. Despite it being end to end, Barnet were the team in the ascendency, and they looked more likely to score.

MK Dons responded by bringing on Cameron Jerome and Scott Fraser. The change came with Dons struggling to create. It was a sign that manager Russell Martin was starting to feel uneasy about the performance, by bringing on players who have been playing well in recent weeks.

MK Dons nearly took the lead, shortly after the subs. They moved the ball forward well, and eventually found Carlton Morris. His shot curled around the keeper, but also wide of the post. Barnet also had a good opportunity straight after, when Wes Fonguck’s dangerous cross wasn’t properly met, and went out for a goal kick.

Muhammadu Faal won a free-kick on the left after beating his man. The free-kick was a cheeky one, taken by McQueen, and had Nicholls scrambling to push it wide for a corner. The following corner was cleared, only as far as Dunne, who hit a low drive from 30 yards, straight to Nicholls.

The deadlock was finally broken by MK Dons in the 80th minute. They were patient, and the ball finally was hit goal-wards by Fraser, from the left hand side of the box and was tapped in by Jerome. The goal was set-up, and scored by the subs and you have to wonder why the ‘bigger’ sides do not start their ‘better’ players, especially when the Dons have been struggling to score as it is.

The game finished a tight 1-0 to MK Dons, however Barnet were the side to catch the eye. Dons will consider themselves lucky to go through, as they were matched by, and at times outplayed, by a Barnet side, who will look at this as a game they could have won.

Dons fail to impress

Despite getting the victory, it was not the performance Russell Martin would have been hoping for. The Dons are sat in 18th in League One, narrowly above the relegation zone, and they have now struggled against two Non-League teams. The FA Cup is something that can really boost a team, or highlight some issues. This game highlighted issues. They were offensively poor, and played as individuals, not a team.

Barnet played very well, but for the Dons, it was a game that they should have been winning comfortably. They struggled against Eastleigh, and they struggled against Barnet. One tight FA Cup game against a team below you can happen, but two starts to raise questions. Add this to their less than convincing league form, and suddenly it looks the Dons could be struggling this season.

Russell Martin has added experience in his spell in charge, and some would argue that it will stabilise them, however it has not improved them since last season. As the 2nd half went on, the more they seemed to struggle mentally. Their focus was on everything but playing football. The Dons quickly resorted to bullying tactics, playing for cheap fouls, and frustration at the ref, sings that point to an unhappy team, and one that isn’t that confident.