MK Dons finally pick up their first points, but how does the side compare to last years?

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It may have taken four matches, but Milton Keynes Dons’ search for their first three points of the season is over, courtesy of two excellently finished goals from Bradley Johnson.

Johnson’s two strikes from outside the area in either half proved pivotal to secure bragging rights, despite a late onslaught from a plucky Port Vale who netted a consolation deep into stoppage time through Ellis Harrison, just as a biblical-esque downpour erupted to send fans scurrying for shelter.

However, as the saying goes “one swallow does not make a summer”. The performance during their 2-1 win at home to Port Vale on Tuesday was at best shaky and staggeringly below the level of anything displayed in the previous campaign. Comparing the display to any produced in the last 12 months, you really see a stark contrast.

If you were to compare the contrast in levels of display between the worst performance of last season (arguably at home versus Doncaster) and the best performance of this current season (most recent display versus Port Vale), you would struggle to notice a clear difference in the two sides.

The key moments from last night's 2-1 victory at @Stadium_MK ?

Watch extended highlights on iFollow MK Dons ? https://t.co/9NWRuSYcUc pic.twitter.com/xhRptcgWBq

— Milton Keynes Dons (@MKDonsFC) August 17, 2022

Even within the most optimistic supporters at Stadium MK, it was obvious to all that trying to replace last years starlets was almost bordering on the impossible. Losing a solid spine of Scott Twine, Conor Coventry and Harry Darling has hurt the Buckinghamshire outfit badly and seem a shadow of their former selves.

In the creation of the new spine, the Dons have turned to new signings Jack Tucker and Matt Dennis, either end of Matt Smith. Despite Smith signing for MK in January 2022, he only made four appearance in the last season, with three of these being fleeting visits off the bench, essentially forming a brand new base from scratch. Tucker, taking over the ball playing defender role has flattered to deceive and at times appeared all at sea when facing the high-press from goal kicks.

Smith, who is highly thought of given his International pedigree with Wales, seeing him capped 18 times, has seemed a little lightweight, often getting bullied off the ball and struggling to retain possession through the phases.

Finally Matt Dennis, who despite his tremendously high work-rate shown, has the toughest job of all to fill the boots of Twine, last season’s League One Player of the Year.

Having to pick up the weight of a player who made 33 goal contributions is no mean feat, but the effort to the cause shown, despite suffering from a lack of support will please supporters, if the chances to score show no signs of coming anytime soon.

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It is inevitable that with so many changes to the playing staff over one transfer window, with no less than 14 new arrivals and ten in the most recent match day squad that it would take time for the players to gel, form a collective understanding and start producing moves using linked ingenuity. The Dons did improve after half time following a formation change, ditching the four defenders setup for their more familiar three centre-back approach, but the issues were still visible to see.

With so many arriving and failing to really hit the ground running, the immediacy of points thrown away will not be lost on Manning and supporters alike.

Off the mark ✅ pic.twitter.com/M9Lz19nm1A

— Milton Keynes Dons (@MKDonsFC) August 16, 2022

Having now collected three points from their opening four matches and another tough match at home to Accrington Stanley coming at the weekend, a lot will hope this is not just a flash-in-the-pan and a victory surrounded by losses, but the beginning of the return to positive results.

If the Dons do follow up victory at home to Port Vale with anything other than a loss at the weekend, then the harmony that was so clear last season could very easily flow through, whereas a loss could spark serious questions.

Whilst full panic stations may not be reached just yet, for a side who only missed out on automatic promotion by the barest of margins last campaign to be struggling this soon into the new season, alarm bells may soon be getting readied.

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