Michael Doughty’s double ended Swindon’s ten-year wait for a league win at Stadium MK as Town overcame MK Dons 3-2.
Doughty opened and closed the Robins’ scoring with Keshi Anderson scoring an absolute belter from 30 yards as Richie Wellens’ side maintained their 100% away record for 2019.
Swindon were dominant throughout with Wellens’ team’s trademark traits of pressing and counter-attacking coming to the fore.
Jake Hesketh and Kieran Agard scored for the Buckinghamshire side in an exciting affair.
First Half
Swindon seemed to have an edge over their opponents throughout the half – if there was a polar opposite performance to a fortnight ago, the first half was it.
Three minutes in and Doughty had the game’s first shot – Matty Taylor who would be forced off 20 minutes later set the midfielder on the edge of the box but Lee Nicholls got two hands behind it to stop.
Still within the first ten and Town were the dominant side – Kaiyne Woolery had a cross deflected just past the post before, from the resultant corner, Doughty had another shot parried away.
As the 10th minute passed, the home side had their first chance – Kieran Agard turned in the box but Lawrence Vigouroux was comfortably behind his scuffed effort.
After Taylor had gone off Jak McCourt was given Captain’s armband and, with the new responsibility, whipped in a dangerous cross for new striker Theo Robinson but his header was just wide of the post.
As the half hour mark passed, Town got themselves in front and through familiar means – Michael Doughty pressed, the ball was won, and the midfielder rolled the ball in, sneaking it inside the post with Nicholls routed to the spot.
Apart from an Alex Gilbey drive from long range, Town headed into the break without having to do too much work.
Second Half
MK Dons came out for the second period revitalised and worked Vigouroux hard from the get-go – he had to make himself big to stop Chuks Aneke levelling the scoring three minutes into the half.
After 15 minutes of hard graft at the back for Messrs Conroy and Broadbent, the Dons were level. Jake Hesketh cut inside onto his left and hit a sweet strike past a helpless Vigouroux but parity was short-lived.
30 seconds after Hesketh’s shot had hit the net in style, Keshi Anderson decided to one-up him and put Town one up again.
The wideman picked the ball up 35 yards out, got the ball out of his feet and unleashed a rip-roaring shot into the far corner.
The game became frantic and end-to-end with both teams having chances to score – Vigouroux had to show some sharp reactions to get down to an Alex Gilbey shot from 18 yards.
On 71 minutes, Town had the chance to give themselves a two-goal cushion – in a trademark Wellens-team break, Woolery sped through towards goal but was fouled in the area.
Up stepped Doughty who, in unbelievably cool fashion, chipped his penalty straight down the middle to double the away side’s lead.
Despite Town’s two-goal lead, the game still felt tightly balanced – Vigouroux tipped over from Aneke with 10 minutes of normal time to play.
That save proved important on 86 minutes when Aneke’s strike partner, Agard, half-volleyed past the Town keeper to create a nervous last few minutes.
The Town back four held firm in the final knockings of the game to ensure a third excellent away game.
