Match ends, MK Dons 5, Walsall 0.
MK Dons thumped Walsall to keep the pressure on in the race for automatic promotion from League Two.
Emre Tezgel put the hosts ahead, before Max Dean's double and further goals from Alex Gilbey and Joe Tomlinson gave the hosts an emphatic victory.
The Dons remain three points off the top three, while Mat Sadler's Saddlers are now without a win in four.
Walsall earlier missed two good chances when Mo Faal twice failed to score from one-on-one opportunities.
MK Dons punished their visitors' profligacy when Tomlinson's cross was flicked on by Gilbey for Tezgel, who converted from close range.
The Dons moved further clear after scoring their first league penalty of the season.
Dean was fouled by Walsall goalkeeper Jackson Smith, and the substitute fired the ball home from the spot.
Gilbey extended the Dons' lead just three minutes later when he received Dean's pass to beat Smith.
Tomlinson then struck a fourth when he found the bottom corner from Dean's through ball, before Dean himself bundled home the fifth 11 minutes from time to round off Dons' biggest win of the season.
Match report supplied by PA Media.
Line-ups
MK Dons
Formation 3-4-2-1
- 32Kelly
- 2Norman
- 5O'Hora
- 21HarvieSubstituted forLewingtonat 70'minutes
- 29Lofthouse
- 11PayneSubstituted forRobsonat 55'minutes
- 50BateSubstituted forWilliamsat 76'minutes
- 14Tomlinson
- 24WearneSubstituted forKempat 69'minutes
- 8Gilbey
- 22TezgelSubstituted forDeanat 55'minutes
Substitutes
- 3Lewington
- 6Williams
- 9Harrison
- 17Robson
- 18Dean
- 27Kemp
- 33Marschall
Walsall
Formation 3-5-2
- 22Smith
- 5DanielsSubstituted forOtehat 65'minutes
- 2Okagbue
- 21Allen
- 36AdegboyegaBooked at 81mins
- 8Hutchinson
- 14ComleySubstituted forMattat 65'minutes
- 25Stirk
- 3GordonBooked at 68mins
- 18GordonSubstituted forJohnsonat 75'minutes
- 23FaalSubstituted forTierneyat 45'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Evans
- 6Farquharson
- 9Matt
- 11James-Taylor
- 20Oteh
- 26Tierney
- 39Johnson
- Referee:
- Edward Duckworth
- Attendance:
- 8,121
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home66%
- Away34%
- Shots
- Home19
- Away4
- Shots on Target
- Home8
- Away1
- Corners
- Home4
- Away5
- Fouls
- Home6
- Away13
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, MK Dons 5, Walsall 0.
Post update
Attempt missed. Ross Tierney (Walsall) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Ryan Stirk with a cross.
Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Post update
Delay in match because of an injury Joseph Tomlinson (MK Dons).
Post update
Max Dean (MK Dons) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Aramide Oteh (Walsall).
Post update
Corner, Walsall. Conceded by Kyran Lofthouse.
Post update
Offside, MK Dons. Max Dean is caught offside.
Post update
Max Dean (MK Dons) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Foul by David Okagbue (Walsall).
Post update
Attempt missed. Daniel Kemp (MK Dons) left footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Kyran Lofthouse.
Post update
Corner, MK Dons. Conceded by Ryan Stirk.
Booking
Emmanuel Adegboyega (Walsall) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Joseph Tomlinson (MK Dons) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Foul by Emmanuel Adegboyega (Walsall).
Post update
Ethan Robson (MK Dons) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Ryan Stirk (Walsall).
Goal!
Goal! MK Dons 5, Walsall 0. Max Dean (MK Dons) right footed shot from very close range to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Cameron Norman following a corner.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Cameron Norman (MK Dons) header from the left side of the six yard box is blocked. Assisted by Daniel Kemp with a cross.
Comments
Join the conversation
The substitutions were bizarre and watching the team I’ve supported for 66 years taken apart by a ruthless opponent didn’t make for a nice experience. We have to go again on Monday but there’s no doubt today belonged to MK and good luck in your push for promotion.
Max Dean is back!
Great in Poland but rubbish in England.
MK, the automatic places are put there as a tease. It's just a mirage in the desert.