Southend thrashing pushes MK Dons into deeper trouble
MK Dons’ hopes of staying in League One took a severe blow after they were beaten 4-0 by Southend United at Roots Hall.
Two first half Theo Robinson goals gave the advantage. A second half strike from Stephen McLaughlin was then followed up by a third Robinson goal for a hat-trick.
On a warm afternoon in Essex, it was the home side who had the breakthrough. Robinson struck in the rebound after Dru Yearwood had initially been kept out by Wieger Sietsma.
Robinson then doubled his advantage just under 10 minutes later, as the attacker received a through-pass and bend a strike beyond Sietsma into the back of the net.
Chuks Aneke and Marcus Tavernier saw attempts drift wide for the visitors, who then saw Sietsma keep the deficit at two as he kept out Marc-Antoine Fortune and McLaughlin.
Southend picked up a third just after the hour, as McLaughlin glanced in Michael Kightly’s free-kick.
There was still time for the MK Dons’ day to get worse, as Robinson tapped the ball over the line to get his hat-trick after a scramble at Southend corner.
The Dons had injury time chances denied for a consolation, but were unable to prevent a fourth straight League One defeat.
With three League One games remaining, the Dons are six points adrift of 20th placed Oldham Athletic, who drew at AFC Wimbledon.