MK Dons knew that picking up any sort of points at Tranmere Rovers would be a tough ask. Rovers top the League Two table based just on home form and have conceded just 11 times at Prenton Park this season, two less than the Dons and Mansfield Town, who are in joint second in that respect.
It’s perhaps not much of a surprise, then, that the Dons struggled to breach a solid Tranmere back line and instead had problems of their own at the back. Goals from David Perkins and Connor Jennings came either side of Kieran Agard‘s equaliser and put the Merseysiders to within two points of the automatic promotion places in League Two, and just a point behind MK Dons.
MK Dons Stutter in League Two Promotion Race While Tranmere Rovers Close the Gap
Player of the Season Makes His Mark
There were no goals for James Norwood in this game after he was recently voted League Two’s Player of the Season, but he was a constant menace up front and was only denied a place of the scoresheet by an outstanding save from Lee Nicholls in the first half and an offside flag not long after.
Even later on in the second half, he and Connor Jennings as the front two caused the MK Dons defence all sorts of problems – a particular highlight being when Russell Martin had a 30-yard headstart on him for a chase to the ball which he won with ease.
He may not have got his goal, but it’s clear to see why clubs are already eyeing up his signature, one being Ipswich Town after their relegation to League One for the 2019/20 season was confirmed yesterday.
All Square Again
Tranmere certainly made the more positive start in the game, particularly with Norwood and Jennings causing problems up front and Ben Pringle on the left-hand side of midfield was an issue for Callum Brittain all afternoon.
Though it may not have been from one of his mazy runs, it was a Pringle delivery that led to the opening goal of the game. His out-swinging corner was headed away by Ousseynou Cisse but, from the edge of the area, Perkins caught a volley beautifully to send the ball straight back through the crowd and into the bottom corner.
The lead lasted only a couple of minutes, however. Conor McGrandles and Jake Hesketh worked the ball down the right, and the latter’s delivery was met by Agard who glanced a header into the far corner to seal his 100th career goal and 20th in the league this campaign.
Dire Second Half Opens Up the Promotion Race
While Paul Tisdale’s side competed enough in the first half to go in all square, their performance after the break indicative of some of the fragilities they have faced on the road this season. The constant long balls to the forward three weren’t working – Agard and Hesketh don’t possess the height and Chuks Aneke cannot win the header.
Those playing the long balls failed to spot this, hence why Tranmere keeper Scott Davies remained untroubled for pretty much all of the second period.
Midway through the half, Pringle broke free down the left again and, with Brittain once again showing his lack of defensive discipline, the winger was given far too much time to pick out Jennings in the middle, who was left unmarked to head home and restore Tranmere’s lead.
It was a lead they held onto without much difficulty, despite a late flurry of action in their own penalty area in the four minutes of stoppage time. Ultimately though, MK Dons deserved nothing from the game and now face must-win games over the Easter weekend against Notts County and Port Vale.
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