MK Dons defeated Port Vale 2-1 at stadium mk as they picked up a first league win of the new season.

Bradley Johnson would strike just after the half hour mark as MK Dons scored a league goal for the first time in the new season.

The midfielder would then grab a second in the final five minutes of normal time, although the visitors would make life uncomfortable for the Dons in added time when Ellis Harrison bundled in a goal.

But MK Dons ultimately held out to take victory at the 4th attempt in League One this season.

The Dons entered the contest in need of an upturn in form, after a 3-0 defeat away at Ipswich Town continued the Dons’ winless and goalless start to the new League One season.

A home side featuring 9 who started at Ipswich, with Henry Lawrence and Dan Kemp shuffled into the starting 11, would start somewhat slowly, with Port Vale winning a few free-kicks and corners, if unable to turn those into shots.

Both sides had seemed full of endeavour, particularly down the flanks with lively wing play, but neither had really been able to turn their bright moments into full shots, with a Matt Smith try blocked in perhaps the best one in the opening 20 minutes.

A lot of the game as a consequence was played in the middle of the park, though the visitors nearly fashioned a decent chance as fine work down their left flank ended up with Chris Hussey prodding wide under pressure from Dean Lewington.

It was the home side who then duly struck an opening goal. Kemp seemed to run out of room down the right flank but the ball fell nicely for Smith. He in turn played the ball in for Johnson, who from outside the box arrowed a drive into the bottom corner for his first MK Dons goal.

Jack Tucker had a few moments at set-pieces where he tried to set up a quick second, but the best chance for a goal in the immediate aftermath saw for the hosts saw Dennis denied by Jack Stevens with an angled try.

Vale had chances of their own. Moments before, Warren O’Hora had to block a Hussey strike, while Ben Garrity saw a strike denied by Jamie Cumming.

MK Dons opted to change to a back 3 at half-time, and the home side would have a half chance early in the second period, as Smith saw a strike deflected wide.

Ethan Robson would then also see a similar strike deflected and gathered by Stevens after good set-up work by Henry Lawrence.

The visitors would have a brief moment of pressure to try and force an equaliser, in which Funso Ojo had a shot charged down, Lawrence had to clear a goalbound ball off the line, and Cumming denied Rory Holden.

Johnson’s cross nearly caught out Stevens before the home side were left dissatisfied as play continued despite Dennis seemingly taking damage from a collision with Nathan Smith.

Dennis would have to be treated, though play only stopped after Port Vale’s Hussey lashed a strike just wide of the mark as the away side continued their counter, though the former Norwich man would continue.

The game would become a fairly scrappy affair with MK Dons attempting to contain Vale’s attackers at arms length. The scrappiness would also see something of a running battle going on between Dennis and at least 2 of Vale’s defenders.

Dennis would have a fine chance to make it 2-0. Moments after Kemp had a shot blocked and Stevens denied Lawrence, the ex-Norwich attacker would wind a shot up from a few yards outside the box and saw his drive denied by a fine flying stop from Stevens.

An opportunity for a second home goal was then presented after away sub Dan Jones caught Kemp on the edge of the box. Johnson would duly take advantage, slamming a low free-kick under the wall and in for a second goal of the night.

Just into six minutes stoppage time, and as rain began to fall hard, Port Vale got a goal as Harrison got a touch to turn in a free-kick. In heavy rain, the visitors did apply late pressure but found no breakthrough and the Dons duly picked up the points.

MK Dons: Cumming – Lawrence, O’Hora, Tucker, Lewington – Johnson, Robson – Kemp (Devoy 87), Smith (Grant 72), Barry (Oyegoke 45) – Dennis

Subs not used: Ravizzoli, Burns, Ilunga, Jules

Goal: Johnson (34, 85)

Booked: Tucker

Port Vale: Stevens – Forrester (Charsley 81), Smith, Hall – Robinson (James 81), Ojo (Walker 81), Conlon, Hussey (Small 68) – Garrity – Harrison, Holden (Proctor 53)

Subs not used: Stone, Pett

Goal: Harrison (90+3)

Booked: Harrison