Milton Keynes Dons 5-0 Walsall

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
Match Stats
Live Text

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

Home TeamMK DonsAway TeamWalsall

Possession: Home66%; Away34%

Shots: Home19; Away4

Shots on Target: Home8; Away1

Corners: Home4; Away5

Fouls: Home6; Away13

Live Text

Post update
Match ends, MK Dons 5, Walsall 0.
90'+7'
Full Time
Second Half ends, MK Dons 5, Walsall 0.

90'+4'
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.
90'+3'
Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
90'+3'
Post update
Delay in match because of an injury Joseph Tomlinson (MK Dons).
90'+2'
Post update
Max Dean (MK Dons) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90'+2'
Post update
Foul by Aramide Oteh (Walsall).
90'
Post update
Corner, Walsall. Conceded by Kyran Lofthouse.
89'
Post update
Offside, MK Dons. Max Dean is caught offside.
87'
Post update
Max Dean (MK Dons) wins a free kick on the right wing.
87'
Post update
Foul by David Okagbue (Walsall).
86'
Post update
Attempt missed. Daniel Kemp (MK Dons) left footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Kyran Lofthouse.
82'
Post update
Corner, MK Dons. Conceded by Ryan Stirk.
81'
Booking
Emmanuel Adegboyega (Walsall) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
81'
Post update
Joseph Tomlinson (MK Dons) wins a free kick on the left wing.
81'
Post update
Foul by Emmanuel Adegboyega (Walsall).
80'
Post update
Ethan Robson (MK Dons) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
80'
Post update
Foul by Ryan Stirk (Walsall).
78'
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.
78'
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.

As It Stood

	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts
1	Stockport	39	21	11	7	78	40	38	74
2	Mansfield	40	20	13	7	79	39	40	73
3	Wrexham	40	21	10	9	72	48	24	73

4	MK Dons	41	21	7	13	68	54	14	70
5	Barrow	39	18	13	8	56	41	15	67
6	Crewe	40	18	12	10	67	55	12	66
7	Gillingham	41	17	9	15	39	47	-8	60

8	Wimbledon	41	15	14	12	54	43	11	59
9	Crawley	39	18	5	16	57	56	1	59
10	Morecambe	40	16	9	15	61	69	-8	57
11	Walsall	39	15	11	13	57	57	0	56
12	Newport	40	16	7	17	59	61	-2	55
13	Harrogate	40	15	10	15	47	56	-9	55
14	Bradford	40	14	11	15	48	53	-5	53
15	Doncaster	39	15	7	17	53	62	-9	52
16	Notts County	40	15	6	19	77	76	1	51
17	Tranmere	41	15	5	21	59	59	0	50
18	Accrington	40	14	8	18	53	59	-6	50
19	Swindon	40	12	11	17	67	71	-4	47
20	Salford	41	12	11	18	61	75	-14	47
21	Grimsby	39	8	15	16	50	68	-18	39
22	Colchester	38	9	10	19	49	67	-18	37

23	Sutton United	41	8	12	21	47	72	-25	36
24	Forest Green	40	8	9	23	38	68	-30	33

.view-comments-button-wrapped-component {display: block !important;} .view-comments-button-wrapper {display: none !important;}

Comments

Join the conversation

These comments are now closed.

46 comments

Comment posted by Mel, at 20:09 29 Mar
MK absolutely deserved it. The team selection by Sadler was totally wrong.
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.
Reply posted by Catch it Gilo, at 21:47 29 Mar
Catch it Gilo replied:
Great response to a true supporter. You genuinely have a shit at the playoffs? You could of been 0-2 up before we got going? However the substitution of Max Dean changed the game. It's good to read a balanced view! Good luck for your quest for the playoffs 👍
Comment posted by Franchise , at 19:26 29 Mar
First PENALTY of the season Come on you DONSSSS.......... 👏👏👏
Comment posted by Chrispy, at 18:09 29 Mar
Fantastic performance and win. Dean back at the right time......need to win five out of five for a top 3 place.....and start by putting away form horrors to bed at Notts on Monday!
Reply posted by telepathetic, at 08:09 30 Mar
telepathetic replied:
Mansfield looks to be the trickiest one. It’s doable though - one game at a time…
Comment posted by Catch it Gilo, at 21:01 29 Mar
I was at the game today and I'll say Walsall could of been 0-2 up after 30 minutes? Dons getting caught again down the sides again. But the introduction of Max Dean changed the game like none ever I've seen? 2 goals n 2 assists and run him self ragged in a MOM performance wow!! He smoked Walsall out the hive!!! Second half was one way traffic.
Comment posted by The Real Graham, at 19:21 29 Mar
Well that was looking like a tight game with Dons 1 - 0 up at half time and only limited chances created. Then on comes Max Dean and he just blows Walsall away, 2 goals, 2 assists. Very well played Dons, play offs must be secure now!
Reply posted by The Real Graham, at 19:24 29 Mar
The Real Graham replied:
and special mention for Tezgel. Very deserving of his goal. Superb performance by the ever energetic Gilbey.
And a clean sheet to boot, possibly related to Williams not being in the defence!
Comment posted by rupert dalrimple, at 18:00 29 Mar
A bit of a reality check for the saddler's today, still the pride of Gdansk 👍
Comment posted by nhspaul, at 17:58 29 Mar
What a contrast from last weekend!

Max Dean is back!
Reply posted by HelloThere, at 10:27 30 Mar
HelloThere replied:
Or just maybe Stockport are a far better team than Walsall
Comment posted by John Devey, at 17:56 29 Mar
Sadler Out
Reply posted by Jumbo Newark , at 23:02 29 Mar
Jumbo Newark replied:
Saddlers out of play offs
Comment posted by Paul Marston, at 19:21 29 Mar
Four games without a win when Walsall could have pushed for he play-offs in the basement division. Big shake-up required in the close season or it will be just the same next time around. Great fans deserve better.
Comment posted by MALC, at 18:06 29 Mar
Nice to see Faal living up to his ability
Comment posted by brendan, at 18:41 29 Mar
Typical Warlsawll.
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.
Comment posted by Boxinghagler1980, at 18:16 29 Mar
Looks like Walsall don't much fancy the play offs.
Comment posted by mk dons 1988 fa cup winners, at 18:21 29 Mar
what a gorgeous this truly is, i love the fact that the coat turners are messing up their chances of making the play offs, their fans deserve no glory ever
Reply posted by brendan, at 19:04 29 Mar
brendan replied:
Presumably, the 'coat turners' you refer to are the team named Wimbledon who play their club football in Wimbledon?
When you really stop to think about this, guess what?
It ceases to make any sense whatsoever.
PS: Maybe try turncoats in the future?
Don't you worry about Wimbledon supporters.
They have something your own fans will never be able to buy. That something is called self-respect.
Comment posted by Michael X, at 18:22 29 Mar
couldnt see first goal due to crush behind goal. I thought the rest of the game was pretty dull tbh

Line-ups

MK Dons

Substitutes

Walsall

Substitutes

Match Stats

Live Text

Comments

Join the conversation

Comment posted by Mel, at 20:09 29 MarMel

Reply posted by Catch it Gilo, at 21:47 29 MarCatch it Gilo

Comment posted by Franchise , at 19:26 29 MarFranchise

Comment posted by Chrispy, at 18:09 29 MarChrispy

Reply posted by telepathetic, at 08:09 30 Martelepathetic

Comment posted by Catch it Gilo, at 21:01 29 MarCatch it Gilo

Comment posted by The Real Graham, at 19:21 29 MarThe Real Graham

Reply posted by The Real Graham, at 19:24 29 MarThe Real Graham

Comment posted by rupert dalrimple, at 18:00 29 Marrupert dalrimple

Comment posted by nhspaul, at 17:58 29 Marnhspaul

Reply posted by HelloThere, at 10:27 30 MarHelloThere

Comment posted by John Devey, at 17:56 29 MarJohn Devey

Reply posted by Jumbo Newark , at 23:02 29 MarJumbo Newark

Comment posted by Paul Marston, at 19:21 29 MarPaul Marston

Comment posted by MALC, at 18:06 29 MarMALC

Comment posted by brendan, at 18:41 29 Marbrendan

Comment posted by Boxinghagler1980, at 18:16 29 MarBoxinghagler1980

Comment posted by mk dons 1988 fa cup winners, at 18:21 29 Marmk dons 1988 fa cup winners

Reply posted by brendan, at 19:04 29 Marbrendan

Comment posted by Michael X, at 18:22 29 MarMichael X

Scores, Results & Fixtures

Friday 29th March 2024

As It Stood

Elsewhere on the BBC

A man from 1979 takes on the modern world

The comedic genius that left us breathless

'It was a collision of two very dangerous people'

Time for a film night?

How to follow your Premier League team on the BBC

Today's football gossip

Phil McNulty

How to get into football

Comment posted by Mel, at 20:09 29 Mar

Reply posted by Catch it Gilo, at 21:47 29 Mar

Comment posted by Franchise , at 19:26 29 Mar

Comment posted by Chrispy, at 18:09 29 Mar

Reply posted by telepathetic, at 08:09 30 Mar

Comment posted by Catch it Gilo, at 21:01 29 Mar

Comment posted by The Real Graham, at 19:21 29 Mar

Reply posted by The Real Graham, at 19:24 29 Mar

Comment posted by rupert dalrimple, at 18:00 29 Mar

Comment posted by nhspaul, at 17:58 29 Mar

Reply posted by HelloThere, at 10:27 30 Mar

Comment posted by John Devey, at 17:56 29 Mar

Reply posted by Jumbo Newark , at 23:02 29 Mar

Comment posted by Paul Marston, at 19:21 29 Mar

Comment posted by MALC, at 18:06 29 Mar

Comment posted by brendan, at 18:41 29 Mar

Comment posted by Boxinghagler1980, at 18:16 29 Mar

Comment posted by mk dons 1988 fa cup winners, at 18:21 29 Mar

Reply posted by brendan, at 19:04 29 Mar

Comment posted by Michael X, at 18:22 29 Mar