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Milton Keynes Dons reignited their promotion push with a thrilling 3-2 win over high-flying Gillingham at Stadium MK, in a performance that combined clinical attacking football with much-needed defensive grit, for most part.
Goals from Laurence Maguire, Nathaniel Mendez-Laing and Callum Paterson were enough to secure a vital three points, despite a spirited late fightback from the visitors.
Gillingham responded through Seb Palmer-Houlden and a stoppage-time strike from former Don Jonny Williams, but the damage had already been done.
The result sees MK Dons move back into the League Two playoff positions, rising to sixth in the table, while Gillingham remain third—still well positioned for automatic promotion, but now looking over their shoulders.
It took less than three minutes for MK Dons to lay down a marker.
Moving the ball with confidence and zip, the hosts carved through Gillingham with a slick four-pass sequence involving Alex Gilbey, Mendez-Laing, and Paterson, culminating in Jon Mellish getting the first shot on target—albeit a tame one, easily gathered by Glenn Morris.
Shortly after, the breakthrough arrived.
A long throw from Paterson caused chaos in the box, eventually falling to Maguire after a blocked header from Gilbey.
The centre-back made no mistake from close range, lashing home to give MK Dons the lead their dominance deserved.
The hosts continued to apply pressure.
Will Collar blazed a presentable chance wide from the edge of the area, while Paterson’s speculative effort took a deflection and whistled narrowly past the post, with Morris rooted to the spot.
From the resulting corner, Maguire almost doubled his tally, but fired over from three yards following a goalmouth scramble.
Given their poor recent home form—five consecutive defeats in all competitions—this was a performance few might have anticipated.
Gillingham, by contrast, had gone 21 games unbeaten prior to last week’s loss at Harrogate and were expected to control proceedings.
Instead, it was MK Dons who looked like the team in hot-form and chasing automatic promotion.
A major factor in the turnaround was the new-look front three of Paterson, Mendez-Laing, and Aaron Nemane.
This was the first time the trio had started together—and they wasted little time in showing their chemistry.
Nemane, brought in from Notts County last Summer, was handed a rare start in his preferred right-wing position due to an injury to Rushian Hepburn-Murphy.
The 28-year-old Frenchman seized the opportunity with both hands, delivering arguably his most complete performance in a Dons shirt. Direct, disciplined, and dangerous, Nemane provided both attacking thrust and defensive cover on the right flank, going on to win the Man of the Match award at the close of play.
In the first half alone, Nemane received the ball 17 times, engaged in six duels—winning all six—and was fouled twice.
He also completed multiple tackles and interceptions, providing crucial balance to MK’s system.
His second-half display showed the same intensity.
A perfectly timed block inside his own box prevented a clear goalscoring opportunity, summing up his commitment and awareness off the ball.
Despite a strong finish to the half by Gillingham, they failed to register a shot on target before the break, with Craig MacGillivray largely untroubled in goal.
Gillingham came out after the interval with renewed intent and nearly equalised just two minutes in.
A powerful header from Josh Andrews looked destined for the top corner, only for MacGillivray to produce a stunning diving save at full stretch.
That proved a pivotal moment.
Just minutes later, MK Dons struck a decisive blow.
Winning possession high up the pitch, Nemane linked up smartly with Liam Kelly before feeding Mendez-Laing.
The Guatemalan international cut inside onto his left foot and curled a composed finish low into the far corner, leaving Morris with no chance.
It was a well-executed move that reflected the energy and cohesion missing in previous home performances.
Moments later, the hosts should have put the game beyond reach.
Another slick counter saw Mendez-Laing deliver a sublime cross into the path of Kelly, only for the midfielder to guide his effort inches wide.
But the third goal did eventually come—and it was the pick of the bunch.
After regaining possession deep in their own half, the Dons launched a devastating three-pass move.
Kelly to Gilbey, Gilbey to Collar, and then a lung-bursting 60-yard run from the recruit from Stockport County two months ago ended with a pinpoint cross to Paterson, who made no mistake from six yards.
It was a moment of redemption for Collar, whose early performances since joining had been underwhelming.
Recently dropped for several fixtures to a the bench, notably the home defeat against Accrington, where Warne chose to field Dan Crowley out of position instead, he responded with a goal last weekend against Shrewsbury and followed it up here with a standout showing—one that may finally cement his place in Warne’s first-choice XI.
To their credit, Gillingham never gave up.
With a quarter of an hour to play, Palmer-Houlden pounced on a lapse in concentration to reduce the deficit.
Then, in the 94th minute, Williams struck against his former club to make it 3-2.
But MK Dons had done enough.
While the late goals were disappointing from a defensive standpoint, they served as a timely reminder that no lead is truly secure in this league—particularly against a side with Gillingham’s quality.
Nonetheless, the broader context makes this a hugely important win.
Not only did MK Dons take three points from a direct promotion rival, but they did so playing expansive, effective football and without relying on individual brilliance or good fortune.
Statistically, the difference was clear.
Coming into the match, the Dons had averaged just 0.58 expected goals (xG) per home game across their last five fixtures—evidence of blunt attacking play and a lack of final-third quality.
Against Gillingham, they registered 2.58 xG, reflecting a much more dangerous and dynamic display.
They also made better use of territory, allowing Gillingham more possession but restricting their influence to less dangerous areas of the pitch.
Unlike previous outings where the Dons were regularly playing from within their own half, they kept the visitors at arm’s length until the final few minutes.
Perhaps the most encouraging takeaway for Paul Warne and his coaching staff, namely assistants Richie Barker and Darren Potter is the performance of players on the fringes.
Nemane and Collar, both considered rotational options in recent weeks, made strong cases for extended runs in the starting XI.
With Rushian Hepburn-Murphy expected to return soon and Dan Crowley pushing for a recall, Warne will face difficult selection decisions ahead of upcoming fixtures.
But these are the kinds of dilemmas any manager would welcome.
This result will do more than just lift MK Dons in the table—it could help shift the narrative around their season.
Whilst the away form is excellent, their home had been a struggle.
With winnable fixtures ahead and momentum starting to build, fans may think once again that hope of a return to League One may well be in their reach.
