Neil Roberts opens the scoring
Pictures courtesy of Dave Howarth / Sportpixs

An inspirational half time substitution by MK Dons manager Martin Allen turned the match on it's head as top scorer Izale Mcleod came on to torment a youthful Wrexham defence, scoring one goal and making the other as the Red Dragons slipped to their second defeat in a row.

First Half

An early scare for Wrexham as Gareth Evans tackled Clive Platt in the box, Mr Rennie waved play on, despite the penalty appeals, as MK Dons started brightly. On 4 minutes a good run by Done, his cross found Roberts who up Mark Jones for a shot that was turned away by Baines for a corner. Ferguson's corner was headed goalwards by Steve Evans and Roberts flick was saved by Baines again, a good spell from Wrexham as MK Dons couldn't clear which eventually ended as Ferguson's right foot shot went past the post.

On 6 minutes a fierce Dyer cross was well defended by Wrexham as the game went from end to end in a really lively start. Wrexham pushed forward in numbers with Done, Llewellyn and Jones breaking from midfield to support the lone striker Neil Roberts. With eleven minutes on the clock a run from midfield by Ferguson allowed Llewellyn to find Mark Jones who drilled a good shot in from 25 yards, unfortunately straight at Baines. Mark Jones was playing more centrally today and was certainly seeing more of the ball than in recent home games.

After the hectic start the game settled down as both sides probed for an opening. The midfield was very competitive with both sides closing down quickly. On 19 minutes Ferguson's corner was not cleared and after two goal efforts from Gareth Evans and Mike Williams were blocked the ball fell to Neil Roberts whose close range shot was turned high into the roof of the net by Baines as he tried desperately to keep the ball out. O'Hanlon received the first yellow card for a foul on the Wrexham skipper two minutes later.

Lee Roche conceded a free kick for a foul on Scott Taylor on 27 minutes, the free kick from 25 yards was taken by McGovern but he curled a fine effort just wide. Two minutes later the visitors earned their first corner, taken quickly and Lewington's cross was glanced wide by Clive Platt from 6 yards. The action was mainly in the middle third of the pitch as both sides battled for supremacy, Wrexham looking to break quickly and Done earned a corner with a good run. Ferguson's corner was cleared but Wrexham kept the pressure on in a good spell ending with Llewellyn's long range shot being easily held by Baines. The ball certainly saw a lot of air as MK Dons kept pumping long balls forward looking for the height and pace of Platt but the two centre backs Steve and Gareth Evans defended well.

On 38 minutes Dyer earned a corner for the visitors this was cleared for another corner. Both taken by Lewington the latter fell to McGovern whose shot was blocked by Steve Evans, the ball fell to Taylor, whose shot beat Ingham, hit the post and was cleared for another corner. This was cleared for yet another corner as Wrexham were put under real pressure relieved by Mike Ingham's catch. Some great defending by Wrexham's makeshift back four.

It was now Wrexham's turn to press and a couple of Ferguson corners in quick succession were cleared. Wrexham finished the half on top territorially as we went into one minute added time the visitors pushed forward and Gareth Evans did well to put off Scott Taylor, whose shot ran through weakly to Ingham.

Second Half

Martin Allen introduced top scorer Izale Mcleod at the start of the second half, replacing Scott Taylor and within one minute of the restart it paid off as he picked up a flick from Clive Platt and drilled the ball low past Ingham.

Both sides pushed forward looking for an opening but McLeod's pace was causing Wrexham real problems and he forced Ingham into a fine save on 53 minutes. Wrexham were under real pressure and some of the defending was desperate as Wrexham struggled to get into the game. A good move by Wrexham prompted by Ferguson and involving Roche and Llewellyn saw the latter's cross evade Neil Roberts and was cleared.

One can only assume that Martin Allen had really fired up his players at half time as they dominated the first quarter of an hour. Wrexham were slowly gaining a foothold in the half and appeared to have weathered the early storm. Worryingly Neil Roberts, who was playing his first game after injury was limping quite badly and it was only a matter of time before he was replaced. Matty Done became the first Wrexham booking for a foul on Wilbraham as Roberts was indeed replaced by Jon Newby on 63 minutes. Platt chased a long ball and seemed to catch Ingham as the goalkeeper fell on the ball. The keeper was able to continue after treatment.

The game was evenly balanced as we reached the midway stage of the half, Gareth Evans was then booked for a foul on McLeod. The freekick was taken by Lewington and brilliantly cleared by Steve Evans. MK Dons were having a good spell but Jones broke clear on 70 minutes and his fierce shot was well saved by Baines diving to his left. This led to a spell of Wrexham pressure, a Ferguson freekick was agonisingly close to Steve Evans but ran to safety. Another problem for Denis Smith as Lee Roche came off injured on 71 minutes to be replaced by Simon Spender. This had the effect of lowering the average age and experience of the back four even further!

Mike Ingham bravely saved at the feet of Mitchell; again the keeper was hurt but recovered to see the resultant corner cleared by his defence. On 76 minutes Mcleod's low cross shot eluded all the Wrexham defenders and Sean O'Hanlon was unmarked at the far post to tap in from two yards. Denis Smith changed the system to 4-4-2 pushing Chris Llewellyn up along side Jon Newby, but as Platt went close with a header on 79 minutes there were more problems for Wrexham, Steve Evans limping off to be replaced by Levi Mackin. MK Dons brought on Chorley for Dyer at the same time. The injury to Evans meant Matt Crowell, in his 100th appearance for Wrexham, moving to right back, Spender to left back and Mike Williams into the centre in yet another defensive reshuffle.

Chris Llewellyn should have equalised for Wrexham as he broke clear on 85 minutes. He tried to bend the ball into the top corner but put it wide. Mark Jones booked for a needless foul on Diallo as Wrexham tried valiantly to mount some pressure on the visitors. Three minutes added time gave the home fans some hope, but Matty Done fired high and wide from a decent position.

Wrexham were pinned back into their own half as was time running out, a break from Wrexham saw Spender's shot deflected for a corner which was eventually scrambled clear before Mackin relieved the pressure on the visitors earning a yellow card for conceding a foul. Mr Rennie's whistle signalled the Red Dragons second home defeat by 2-1 on the bounce and perhaps of more concern to the home fans were the injuries to Neil Roberts, Lee Roche and Steve Evans with another home game on Tuesday night.

Wrexham (4-3-3): Michael Ingham, Lee Roche (Simon Spender), Gareth Evans, Steve Evans (Levi Mackin), Mike Williams, Chris Llewellyn, Mark Jones, Darren Ferguson, Matt Crowell, Matty Done, Neil Roberts (Jon Newby).
Subs: Michael Jones, John McAliskey.

MK Dons (4-4-2): Adolfo Baines, Jamie Smith, Drissa Diallo, Sean O'Hanlon, Dean Lewington, Jon-Paul McGovern, Paul Mitchell, Aaron Wilbraham, Lloyd Dyer, Clive Platt, Scott Taylor (Izale McLeod 46).
Subs: Ademole Bankole, Leon Crooks, Gareth Edds, Ben Chorley.

Referee: Uriah Rennie (Sheffield)
Attendance: 3,828
Away: 212

Bookings -
Wrexham: Matty Done (foul), Gareth Evans (foul), Mark Jones (foul), Levi Mackin (foul)
MK Dons: Sean O'Hanlon (foul)

STAT ATTACK
4	Shots On Target	3
5	Shots Off Target	4
16	Fouls (Conceded)	9
6	Corners	9
4	Yellow Cards	1
0	Red Cards	0
REFEREE: U Rennie