After three defeats in a row, Dons started with a point to prove. Assisted by Josh Murphy with a cross.
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Mirco Antenucci will hope to keep his place with Chris Wood up front.
But despite the blow, MK threw everything at Leeds in the final ten minutes and in six minutes of added-on time, but Marco Silvestri, who produced an excellent display in goal and atone for his error in the midweek loss to Ipswich, held firm.
But the hosts would soon be taught a harsh lesson in making chances count, when Baker went to ground in the box, bringing down Taylor as the Leeds left-back drove into the box.
Silvestri kept Leeds ahead when he pushed Hall’s strike onto the post and Gallagher hit the rebound over. We were 2-0 up at half-time and it was a great position to be in coming into the second half.
Leeds started the second half as they ended the first with Byram getting away, but he sent his shot over.
It was United who had the best early chance, with Mowatt’s shot blocked by Martin, with Silvestri afforded a more quiet time of it at the other end in the opening 15 minutes of the half.
After looking in control, however, United had to dig in for a spell past the hour mark.
MK Dons did finally beat Silvestri 16 minutes from time as Murphy’s low cross eluded the visitors’ defence and was netted from close range by substitute Simon Church.
77 – DONS RED CARD – It’s a shocking challenge by Samir Carruthers on Stuart Dallas and he is given his marching orders.
Tom Adeyemi (Leeds United) wins a free kick in the defensive half. I felt the way we managed the first 15 to 20 minutes of the second half was very impressive. Then the panic button came into play, even with a man more. They got a lot of corners and free-kicks, and sometimes you get the luck of a goal out of this.
They had two chances to pull themselves back into the game in quick succession in the 65th minute, when Diego Poyet’s looping 25-yard strike was tipped over by Silvestri before Murphy slammed the ball against the face of the post as Dons worked the ball short from the resulting corner. Our players should have the confidence and belief that we can go for 90 minutes.
“We found it hard to get the ball down and play and use our man advantage”. But the character of the team was shown and we dug deep.
“We were nervous, you could see that”.
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“I have to put the level of performances in the last two games under consideration and I also have to consider backing players who maybe had a game where they didn’t reach their normal level”.
