Leigh adds a new string to his bow but the Dons fall to Port Vale, after George Baldock’s tribute following shock death

Milton Keynes Dons succumbed to an excellent Port Vale, as the Dons past and present came together in memory of George Baldock.

Antwoine Hackford’s late strike saw Darren Moore’s men take home all three points in a thoroughly dominant performance, one deserving of far more than just a victory by the single strike.

There was a moment of controversy in the opening half where the hosts had a goal disallowed for handball despite not appearing to strike anything but the midriff off striker Tommy Leigh.

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It was a day that began in a sombre mood, which saw a tribute flooded with emotion to mark to the passing of George Baldock, former academy product who played over 100 times for Milton Keynes. Many ex-players turned up to pay their respects, including Dele Alli, Lee Nicholls and Callum Brittain.

The news broke on Wednesday evening, on the eve of England hosting Greece at Wembley Stadium, which featured a touching tribute to the former Greek international, who had personal relations with the majority of those in either squad.

Aged just 31, and, having just moved to Panathinaikos in the Greek Super League and UEFA Conference League, it was the Buckingham-born defender’s first foray into international club football.

Earlier in his career Baldock enjoyed a loan spell with IBV in the Icelandic top-flight during his formative years when a member of the MK Dons academy.

Outside of football, Baldock had recently become a father and leaves behind a fiancé who the footballing world will always offer their love and support to, knowing what a positive impact he has left on the footballing communities he touched during his time.

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As the game kicked off it was Port Vale who made the early running and the visitors nearly broke the deadlock on two occasions with half chances from strikers Jayden Stockley and Lorent Tolaj, but both came and went.

The new head coach Scott Lindsey, having recently arrived from Crawley Town dropping a division to do so, clearly was far from impressed with the momentum and start to the contest, berating his side which certainly did the trick, but, for an unknown reason the referee disallowed a perfectly good goal.

From a corner delivered to the front post, striker Tommy Leigh chested the ball home to take the lead, however, David Rock, the referee chose to rule out for handball inexplicably.

It was a moment that was clearly the outlier in the game as the Dons did not look like getting anything from the game.

There was a late-rally but no chance arrived, following a succession of five corners in as many minutes.

The referee finally put the home fans out of their misery after such a dismal performance ended in disappointment for the hosts and jubilation for the travelling supporters.

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Tommy Leigh is slowly morphing into the Dons’ “League Two Kai Havertz”.

Having spent whole four-year professional career to date as a midfielder, he has found himself having to lead the line for Milton Keynes following suspensions and injuries to the forward department.

Despite being in an initial emergency role, the 24-year-old has kept his place as the man leading the line upon the return of the regulars to full fitness and the respective disciplinary slate wiped clean.

In his three matches as the number nine in the side, his return has seen one goal and two assists, much to the delight of Lindsey.

In his first outing leading the line against Bromley away in September, he registered his first assist, setting up Joe Tomlinson to fire home.

Subsequently, he broke the deadlock and later assisted Alex Gilbey the following week away at Harrogate Town in a 5-1 routing.

It could and should have been more if the referee did not rule out his effort against Port Vale as mentioned above, it was on the hour-mark that he dropped back into his more favourable role with the introduction of Scott Hogan, coming off the bench for his debut.

Across the 200-minutes total in the role, to get three goal involvements is a tremendous effort for effectively a stop-gap.

Having signed Scott Hogan as a free agent earlier in the week, it remains to be seen if this is a position he will hold going forward, but to be able to offer a second string to his footballing-bow can only be a good thing for his career, knowing a manager can depend on him to step up to the plate in multiple scenarios.

In his new-found role he has performed admirably, winning 14 of his 21 aerial duels, successfully winning the ball on nine occasions with interceptions and only being caught offside once, meaning his work-rate did not go unrewarded or wasted needlessly.

It is though worth remembering, football is a results-driven business so a lot of effort in a loss, is still a loss.

In years to come, the League Table will remember the result but the supporters will remember the commitment and effort for the shirt. If only the Dons could have wished for someone to have shown over the 90 minutes the fight, desire, and passion George Baldock embodied…

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