Accrington Stanley’s three-game winning streak came to an end with a 2-0 loss to promotion-chasing MK Dons at the Wham Stadium on Saturday.
The mid-table Reds had their chances but Paul Warne’s side were clinical as they push towards the top three.
There were landmarks for two Stanley players - Shaun Whalley making his 200th appearance for the club and Devon Matthews reaching 50 games.
Boss John Doolan welcomed Farrend Rawson back from illness and he was on the bench, while midfielder Liam Coyle sat the game out with injury, Seamus Conneely replacing him.
Stanley started strongly. Donald Love forced a save out of Craig MacGillivray in the second minute, while Whalley raced down the left wing but his final shot was across the goal and wide.
MK Dons took the lead on 14 minutes when Callum Paterson’s flick sent recent signing Ben Wiles racing free and he fired past Ollie Wright.
Isaac Sinclair’s 26th-minute strike was well saved by MacGillivray and, moments later, Whalley’s header was down and just wide.
Alex Henderson’s long-range lob was not far off the top corner as the Reds searched for a way back into the game.
In added time, Liam Kelly’s 30-yard shot was just over the bar while, at the other end, McGillivray kept out Benn Ward’s header.
However, in the fourth minute of added time, Aaron Collins got the ball in the area and, despite Wright getting a touch to it, found the back of the net for a 2-0 half-time lead.
Stanley started on the front foot after the interval, attacking the visitors’ goal, but the Dons remained a threat, Mellish firing across the goal and just wide on 55 minutes.
Doolan changed his attack on the hour mark with Paddy Madden and Charlie Caton coming on.
Sinclair’s low drive was saved by McGillivray, while Madden turned and fired superbly from distance but the MK Dons keeper got there to deny him.
Alex Gilbey’s shot was deflected just wide with both managers then making further changes, but the game became disjointed with clear-cut opportunities limited for both sides.
The Dons came close to a third on 84 minutes when Paterson got the ball on the edge of the area and his effort hit the bar, but two goals was enough to seal the points.
Stanley: Wright, Love, Matthews, Ward, O’Brien (Brown), Conneely (Grant), Sinclair, Heath, Whalley, Henderson (Caton), Woods (Madden). Subs not used: Kelly, Sass, Grant, Rawson
Referee: Ross Martin.
Attendance: 2,006 (325 away).
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