Stevenage’s poor run of form continued as they went down 4-1 away to MK Dons this afternoon (Saturday).
Two goals from Patrick Bamford, one from Dele Alli and a penalty from Shaun Williams cancelled out an own goal from Darren Potter.
Boro made three changes to the side that lost at home to Carlisle last week, with Sam Wedgebury, Jimmy Smith and Lee Hills coming in for David Gray, Oumare Tounkara and Jordan Burrow.
MK Dons started much the brighter of the two sides and it didn’t take long for them to open the scoring, Bamford heading home a Williams free-kick from the right side after 12 minutes.
The away side were struggling to get hold of the ball, with the isolated Luke Freeman providing Boro’s only outlet.
A nightmare couple of minutes then ensued for Boro, as they suddenly found the match slipping away from them.
Firstly, some good work on the left side of the penalty area from Luke Chadwick saw him get to the by-line before pulling the ball back to Bamford who finished unchallenged for his and MK Dons’ second goal of the game.
With the previously resolute Boro backline looking fragile, the home side made it 3-0 two minutes later, Alli controlling a cross shot just outside the 6-yard box before slipping over but still managing to prod the ball past the despairing dive of Chris Day and in off the post.
Freeman continued to provide the away side’s only real threat, and his endeavour was rewarded as the first half drew to a close.
Great work down the left hand side saw the 21 year old beat his man before drilling the ball across the box where it was turned into his own net by former Liverpool midfielder Potter to give Boro a lifeline.
New loan signing Don Cowan was introduced at half time for his first appearance for the club since re-joining earlier this week, Hills the man making way.
A quiet opening to the second period was brought to life just after the hour when Alli played a neat one-two on the edge of the area before going down under a challenge from Wedgebury. There appeared to be minimal contact from the defender but referee Andy Woolmer had no hesitation in pointing the spot.
Williams then converted the spot-kick to restore the home side’s three goal advantage.
A minute later an almost carbon copy of the same incident saw the impressive Freeman drift past his man before going down under a similar challenge, only for referee Woolmer to dismiss his claims and infuriate further an already seething Graham Westley.
The away side continued to look devoid of ideas in the final third, with Freeman and substitute Tounkara providing the only further moments of note for the away side.
More excellent work from Freeman saw the youngster again beat his man before drilling a low shot beyond the dive of David Martin but against the foot of the far post and behind.
Tounkara then had the chance to open his account for Stevenage but, clean through on goal, the Frenchman skewed his shot just wide of post to end any slim hope of a Boro comeback.
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