Stadium MK is where Brian Flynn takes his table topping Rovers side next, looking to stay at the top of the pile in League One after another impressive win at the weekend against Hartlepool.
Buckinghamshire has been a happy place for Rovers to visit in the past and The Dons won’t relish the arrival of the visitors.
There has only been five meetings between the sides prior to this one, three in Doncaster and two in Milton Keynes with Rovers taking the victory in both games played at the home of The Dons.
December 10th 2005 was the last time the sides met at but it was at the former home of the Dons, the National Hockey Stadium, and it was a very satisfying trip for Rovers. Three goals scored and three points gained as Dave Penney’s men ran out victors despite a valiant attempted fight back from the home side.
After a slow start to the game Rovers opened the scoring after just 13 minutes, Sean Thornton picked the ball up wide and played a perfect ball in for Nick Fenton to head home from around six yards. The hosts tried to make an immediate fight back but couldn’t get past the Rovers defence and The Dons were to concede a second goal some ten minutes later.
Thornton was the architect once again, this time from the corner where he clipped the ball into Steve Roberts who took control with his back to goal before swivelling and smashing home past Matt Baker. Rovers continued to press as Jonathan Forte accepted a pass from Paul Heffernan before shooting at goal but this time Baker was there to keep the score at 2-0.
The first meaningful attack for the home side came when Dean Lewington shot from inside the box but Jan Budtz comfortably saved. This gave the home side hope and Rovers had their keeper to thank a few minutes later as Izale McCloud ran clear but Budtz stayed big to make a terrific stop to keep the scores level going into the break.
MK came out fighting at the start of the second half and it took a Sean McDaid header off the goal-line to deny Aaron Wilbraham with Budtz again being in the right place to keep out a close range header. Rovers pressed and won a succession of corners but they weren’t able to find the telling touch and get the ball over the line.
The Dons had roused their supporters and were growing in confidence and with just under 20 minutes to go they finally managed to breach Rovers’ rearguard. A corner was taken quickly and played back to Gary Smith who clipped the ball into the box, Wilbraham looked to have unsighted Budtz and the ball rolled into the goal.
After ten minutes or so of pressure from the home side, Rovers were to strike the killer blow as Heffernan was there to intercept a poor back pass by Craig Morgan before slotting home confidently.
MK weren’t finished though as they quickly netted a minute later as Wilbraham was there to pick up the second poor back pass of the game, this time from Rovers substitute, Sam Oji, and the striker just got the ball into the net before Oji got back to try and make amends.
It was too little too late for the home side however as Rovers saw out the game to take the points and move back into the top ten in League One.