MK Dons unable to find break through in draw with Blackpool
MK Dons were unable to pick up a third straight win after they were unable to break through against Blackpool at stadium:mk.
In a tight game, the home side had the majority of the chances, but were unable to find the crucial one to win the match, and ultimately couldn’t make their pressure count.
The result means that the Dons have now picked up 7 points from 3 games, which is enough to move back to within one point of safety. But with Northampton losing and Oldham not playing, they missed the chance to move up the table ahead of the busy Easter weekend.
After the much-needed boost from back-to-back wins over Rotherham and Bury, the Dons were looking to keep their upturn going against a Blackpool side who began the afternoon six points above the drop-zone. The Dons began the day 2 points from safety, but hopeful of getting more much needed points on the board.
The opening stages were fairly tight, with two sides looking to primarily play a passing game on the floor trying to work out how best to break the opposition down.
The first major chances landed for the visitors. After a decent passing move, Kyle Vassell cut inside but could only hit a low effort straight at Lee Nicholls, while Jay Spearing then blasted a strike into the crowd.
The game was largely a tight one, with both sides showing their capacity to venture forward, but unable to pick out the killer pass, with both side’s defences proving adept at timing their interventions.
As the half continued, MK Dons began to create chances. Two of the best fell for Peter Pawlett, with the Dons midfielder seeing one header from a Dean Lewington cross go wide, and a fine strike with the half’s best chance. This effort was saved by Joe Lumley after he’d been teed up by Chuks Aneke.
In-between those two chances, Aneke had been presented with an opportunity after being set up by Kieran Agard, but his effort was straight at Lumley.
The opening period continued in the same vein as before, with a scrappy match seeing very little to separate the two teams. As the half progressed, it was Blackpool who looked the likelier to break the impasse, but a couple of wayward efforts from range were the best they could muster.
MK Dons did come somewhat closer late in the half, but neither Ethan Ebanks-Landell or Elliott Ward could force the ball over the line at a scramble after a corner.
It was Blackpool who created a fine opportunity for themselves at the start of the second half, but after being found unmarked at the back post, Viv Solomon-Otabor blazed his effort over the top.
MK Dons were beginning to build a bit of momentum as the half progressed, but were struggling to create much in the way of full chances. The best one fell the way of Aneke, but the Dons attacker’s attempt to lob Lumley went past the wrong side of the post after beating the keeper.
The Dons threw on Robbie Muirhead and the Scot who returned early in the morning from international duty nearly had the desired effect, with his powerful drive tipped away by Lumley.
Further chances then came about for the hosts, as Scott Wootton saw a looping header tipped over, before Aneke fired a drive into the side-netting.
The Dons then had a superb chance fall to substitute Ike Ugbo, as Muirhead’s cross couldn’t land for Aneke but was passed on to the Chelsea loanee, only for Lumley to respond with a firm stop.
With MK Dons straining to break through, Blackpool came close to nicking it themselves as the continually dangerous Solomon-Otabor picked out sub Sean Longstaff, whose effort from close range crashed against the crossbar.
The Dons’ best chance in five minutes of added time saw Aneke’s free-kick go over. But there was still time for a strange moment to end the game on, as after Aneke had failed to work a chance in the final minute, the ball fell for Dean Lewington.
But before he could hit an effort that landed in the back of the net, the referee had blown time on proceedings, ensuring a goalless draw.
MK Dons: Nicholls – Wootton, Ward, Ebanks-Landell (Muirhead 66) – Williams, Pawlett, Upson, Cisse (Thomas-Asante 80), Lewington – Aneke, Agard (Ugbo 73)
Subs not used: Sietsma, Reo-Coker, McGrandles, Jackson
Booked: Pawlett, Aneke
Blackpool: Lumley – Turton, Tilt, Robertson, Daniel – Ryan, Spearing – Delfouneso, Philliskirk (Longstaff 67), Solomon-Otabor – Vassell (Agyei 84)
Subs not used: Williams, Amson, D’Almeida, Gnanduillet, Cooke
Booked: Tilt, Ryan