If anybody thought that Saturday would see a repeat performance of the 5-goal thriller at Stadium:MK on Tuesday night, they were sadly inaccurate, as what turned out to be a drab goal-less draw was marred by a head-crunching collision.
The Dons made their way to The Robins nest off the back off a 4-1 hammering reverse fixture in the Carling Cup 1st Round. Swindon guaranteed a tie against Premiership new-boys Wolves in the next round thanks to a 40 yard wonder goal and some questionable defending and goalkeeping. Paul Ince's men were looking to regain some pride with their trip south to Wiltshire. With a few players back from the treatment table, even Town manager Danny Wilson admitted the tie would be a different contest than the mid-week rout.
An optimistic MK Dons following had made the journey south adding to a rather disappointing 6,600 strong attendance for the County Ground's first meeting of the new season. As 3 o'clock approached even the sun had broken through the clouds to watch the outcome of the clash at SN1.
For half an hour there was little to cheer about, as a whistle happy referee kept a close hold on the game, reducing the possibility of the two teams mounting real chances. Just after the half-hour mark Mr. Ward disciplined MK Don Luke Howell for repeat offence of "unsporting behaviour"; proving to be the catalyst for the first real chance of the game. The free-kick lead to a flurry of corner kicks for Swindon, and on the third attempt the valiant right boot that had given Town the lead just days before executed an inch-perfect delivery to the head of 18 year old giant Sean Morrison. The 6ft4in centre back met the cross perfectly to direct the ball in the bottom left corner only to be denied spectacularly by Willy Gueret who had appeared to have put his bumbling mid-week performance well and truly behind him.
6 minutes later Luke Chadwick was released past Town's Lescinel Jean-Francois down the right-flank. The Town defence struggled to keep up with play and the Man Utd. youngster whipped the ball across goal into the path of waiting American Jemal Johnson. Johnson took perhaps too much time and just managed to squeeze a shot away past the advance of Kevin Amankwaah. Lucas, in between the sticks for Swindon, should have gathered the powerless shot easily. However, the ball squirmed loose from his grasp but he did well to react quickly and keep dexterous Jermaine Easter from scoring. Shades of last year's goalkeeper error-prone season for the Swindon followers.
The event that followed had player and supported alike in silence. A sliced clearance from the Dons saw the ball fly a few feet in the air looking to land nicely for Michael Timlin to mount a quick Town attack. In an attempt to clear up; both Mathias Doumbe and captain Dean Lewington leapt for the ball above Timlin. Heads clashed and both led motionless. Ward immediately halted play and both team physios attended a victim each knowing that the outcome of the clash was dangerous at best. The game was halted for more than 11 minutes as both players received lengthy treatment . Doumbe was eventually helped off the pitch and later given 15 stitches to a lacerated wound on his head however Lewington's state remained a massive concern as he still lay motionless. The decision was made to take the skipper to hospital on a spinal board where Lewington was diagnosed as having a mild concussion and received 12 stitches in a head wound.
Following the break, MK Dons took to the pitch with renewed vigour and looked the more likely of the two sides to steal all 3 points. 2 mins into the 2nd half Jemal Johnson whipped in a curling free kick. Luke Howell had managed to get in front of Lescinel to get a header away but Lucas saved emphatically; managing to get down to the meet the bounce of the powerful header and this time holding on.
With very little vision and creativity being offered by either side, it became increasingly likely that a moment of magic or mayhem would decide the outcome. Swindon introduced new loanee Tope Obadeyi from Bolton to the game along with pacey Alan O'Brien. Obadeyi had signed just 24 hours previous to his debut appearance and immediately looked dangerous. The two linked up following a long ball forward from Sean Morrison. O'Brien flicked the switch and used his amazing pace to get in behind the defence, playing a first-time ball into the box where Obedeyi met with a header. Gueret was untroubled as the ball glanced over the bar.
Shortly after, Lescinel Jean-Francois' cross was only half cleared by Dons' defender Darren Powell and Jon-Paul McGovern met the clearance with a powerful half-volley destined for the top corner. Willy Gueret could only turn and watch as the ball was miraculously headed off the line by ex-Town defender Sol Davis to deny McGovern a second screamer in as many games against MK Dons, which surely would have sent the home fans into rapture.
Both defences had shut up shop from the word go and neither side was able to break the deadlock. The final chance of the afternoon came as Jemal Johnson fired a left footed shot at goal. David Lucas who has managed to cement the first team place so far this season got down well and deflected the ball clear for captain Gordon Greer to finish the cleanup operation.
The outcome of a monotonous afternoon at the County Ground was (literally) another injury headache for MK Dons' Paul Ince and a share of the spoils. A fair result perhaps as chances were limited throughout the game with both sides looked somewhat lacklustre in attack. Dons' fans will definitely be heading home the happier of the two sets despite the blow of losing Dean Lewington once again indefinitely.
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