MK Dons draw again for the fifth time this season, but is there defence currently stopping them progressing?

Milton Keynes Dons are still yet to record their first victory of the season with their seventh game of the season ending in a 1-1 draw at home to Peterborough United 1-0 Sky Bet League Two action.

Aaron Collins’ first-half strike was cancelled out by Chris Conn-Clarke to see each side share the spoils.

The game started in a lively fashion with both teams looking to be positive and get the ball forward as quickly as possible. The first goalbound effort came after just three minutes for the hosts, and, the chance looked better upon second replay, for Sam Nombe but it was well snuffed out by the visiting defence.

They say old habits die hard, and one of the reasons that the Dons are yet to pick up a victory so far had been defensive frailties, which were enough to see a change of formation and also quite a large personnel alteration, with four centre backs having already started and just as many wing backs. None were altered for fitness-reasons, but for attempts to find the best combination. After just six matches, enough was seen by head coach Paul Warne to decide arguably the most settled position in football, the Goalkeeper, needing a chance too. Having joined on the penultimate day of the Summer transfer window, Will Dennis, who joined from AFC Bournemouth on a multi-year contract, was given his first start and after ten minutes almost had a calamitous beginning, rushing out to confront winger Owura Edwards and failing to intercept, however Edwards’ touch saw the opportunity halt and ultimately falter after defenders managed to scamper back and snuff out.

The game suddenly became a little one-way, as the chances that came all were in the visitors favour, seeing a corner kick as well as a well-worked free-kick rolled across the six-yard box, crying out to be tapped home, as the Dons defence resembled statues.

For all of the Dons good work, they let themselves down very easily with sloppy passes, being too light in 50/50 challenges and at times slow to react to the broken down second balls.

Despite the negatives, the major bright spark for the hosts from the opening salvos of the game was striker Sam Nombe. The recent summer acquisition shone with his workrate chasing long passes and balls sent down the channels of the Peterborough backline, which managed to keep the pressure on in positions where it looked unlikely.

On the half-hour mark the deadline was broken, with a strike that was more luck than precision. It did appear at times that the only way the Dons were going to be able to breach the visiting backline for a shot on target was via a Callum Paterson long throw-in. After a couple of missile-like attempts seemed to cause a little panic, the eventual goal came via a disguised short throw. Having taken short and surprised the marking defender whose job it was to close down, Paterson delivered a whipped cross low and hard, that was deflected onto the crossbar. On the ricochet out to the penalty spot, striker Aaron Collins whacked a strike goalbound, but it cannoned onto the post and rolled across the goalline to break the deadlock, sending the home supporters into rapturous jubilation.

It was the first time since the opening day of the season that the Dons had scored the opening goal of a match, and like against Oxford United where they failed to capitalise on to pick up all three points, they did the same.

For how the Dons had been second-best before the goal, afterwards they initially were the polar-opposite. Beating Peterborough’s attempts to regain parity, the Dons began moving the ball around with poise, pace and looking in control, creating a lot of crossing opportunities which were cleared without real conviction leading to further chances coming and going.

Coming out for the second half, it took only five minutes of no signs of massive improvement for Peterborough’s head coach Luke Williams and make a triple substitution, adding extra firepower and almost immediately it bearing fruit. The chances rained on Dennis’ goal, seeing two excellent chances spurned, with one narrowing looping wide. In an attempt to keep the momentum in their favour, Williams again turned to the bench, now having made four changes and having three strikers on the field.

The changes may have appeared positive, but unfortunately for the visitors perspective, they did not really have the desired long-effect on the match. Quickly it showed, there were holes left behind the options forward, allowing the Dons the own opportunities, and they should have doubled their lead with twenty minutes to go, as midfielder Dan Crowley broke clear through on goal, with just the keeper to beat, but blazed over the bar.

There was a huge scare for Milton Keynes five minutes later when Edwards broke from wide, striking the post with his effort on target from the edge of the area, dribbling wide.

The bell finally tolled with five minutes left to play. After sustained pressure on the Dons defensive line, the final substitute Chris Conn-Clarke managed to get himself on the end of a cross deep into the penalty area to bring parity to the scoreline. The Dons had stuck about their task manfully, but fell and there was one-way traffic from then on.

So, still without a win and sat outside the formative relegation places on goal difference, it is certainly not the start that was desired. Whilst there still are 40 games to go, it is not yet panic stations but the fact that so many different combinations of players and formation has been tried already in this season, highlights whatever was planned for during the transfer window has not hit the floor firing.

The hope is there, but the defensives inability to keep clean sheets is clearly what is holding back. Although the was a 0-0 earlier in the season shutting out Leicester City, it was a case of that being an outlier in the matches that have happened so far. For MK to see any chance of turning draws to wins and defeats into draws, the defence needs to work better at preventing the sloppy mistakes. Having conceded 14 goals already, averaging two a game means your forwards have to be firing each week, just to keep you in the ties. The xG that Peterborough mustered was xG1.2, but last weekend Wycombe managed xG1.17 and scored thrice, and Wigan the game before scored thrice also, with an xG1.02.

The embers are there, but sloppy mistakes and an inability to put it together for a complete ninety minutes is currently what is stopping Warne’s men from collecting their first three points of the season. Facing bitter rivals AFC Wimbledon away on Thursday, supporters will not think of a better opponent to finally put their slide to rest.

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