MK Dons 0 Crawley Town 2: Drury and Jones goals seal easy victory

Goals at the start and end of the first half by Andy Drury and Mike Jones sealed a surprisingly easy win.

Carried out within the impressive backdrop of the Stadium MK, both sides held a poignant minute’s silence followed by applause for the victims on the anniversary of the Hillsborough tragedy.

Crawley made two changes to the side which had narrowly lost 1-0 at Brentford on Tuesday with Andy Drury returning from illness and Jamie Proctor starting upfront in place of Matt Tubbs who was on the bench.

Reds made the perfect start when Proctor timed a great ball from midfield to Drury who beat the offside trap and side footed the ball past advancing keeper David Martin.

Crawley then made a substitution when defender Paul Connolly had to leave the field with an injury and he was repaced at right back by namesake Mark.

Drury had a go on goal from 25 yards but his shot lacked power and it rolled comfortably to MK Dons keeper David Martin.

Dons’ Mark Randall put Izale McLeod through for a godo chance to equalise but his lob flew harmlessly over the crossbar.

At the other end Paul Jones pulled off a great parry to deny MK’s Dele Alli before Dannie Bulman cleared the loose ball.

Moments before half-time Crawley set themselves up for what would be a much needed victory when Proctor seized upon a mistake by Jordan Spence and teed up Mike Jones to score Reds’ second goal.

It was deserved and a great opportunity as MK certainly had not impressed during the first half and certainly did not look as good as their seventh place suggested.

The second half got off to a slow start and although MK were seeing more of the ball, neither side created any real chances on goal.

The lack of home impact led to MK making a triple substitution on 57 minutes as Izale McLeod, Brendan Galloway and Matty Kennedy made way for Samni Odelusi, James Loveridge and Giorgio Rasulo.

Dons switched to playing three at the back with a trio which included former England international Alan Smith.

Alli was played into a good position and put a ball into the penalty area but Paul Jones was too alert and grabbed from Odelusi’s feet.

MK eventually had a period of pressure as Spence lofted one shot widly over the bar before going close from the right with another effort.

John Gregory made his second substitution with 13 minutes to go as Sergio Torres came on for Drury who had enjoyed a great game on his return from a sickness bug.

Proctor got through into the middle of the area but was blocked by Smith.

REDS: Paul Jones, Mat Sadler, Kyle McFadzean, Andy Drury (Sergio Torres 77), Josh Simpson, Joe Walsh, Jamie Proctor (Rory Fallon 88), Dannie Bulman, Mike Jones, Gary Dicker, Paul Connolly (Mark Connolly 10).

Subs: Jonny Maddison, Mark Connolly, Sergio Torres, Rory Fallon, Matt Tubbs, Jeffrey Monakana, Gwion Edwards

MK DONS: David Martin, Dean Lewington, Alan Smith, Izale McLeod (Samni Odelusi 57, Dele Alli, Mark Randall, Dan Powell, George Baldock, Brendan Galloway (James Liveridge 57), Jordan Spence, Matty Kennedy (Giorgio Rasulo 57)

Subs: Charlie Burns, Giorgio Rasulo, Ryan Hall, James Loveridge, Samni Odelusi

REFEREE: Stephen Bratt (West Midlands)

ATTENDANCE: 8,877 (338 away)