Port Vale have made a better start to the League One season than anticipated and with a dozen fixtures played out have accumulated 20 points which sits themselves happily fourth in the table. However their last six form guide has seen them win six and lose twice (DWLWLW). MK Dons have made a slow start to the new season following their bump back down to League One level with Port Vale only too happy to take advantage at Stadium:MK last Sunday, and travel home with maximum points with their first away win of the season.
Michael Brown (far right) in action for Port Vale against Coventry City on 1st October.
Alex Jones' first-half goal was all that Port Vale needed to see off MK Dons 1-0 and end a winless run away from home that stretched back to April. AFC Wimbledon's win at Oxford earlier in the day saw Neal Ardley's side go above MK Dons for the first time in the English Football League and Karl Robinson's day got even worse when Jones netted the winner.
The hosts started brightly and Kieran Agard's downward header was well saved by Jak Alnwick in the Vale goal. But little more than a minute after watching his strike smack against the Port Vale post, Dons defender Dean Lewington's misjudged handball handed Bruno Ribeiro's side a penalty 10 minutes before the break. And although Jones' initial strike was superbly saved by Dons keeper David Martin, the Birmingham loanee was perfectly placed to smash home the rebound.
Substitutes Nicky Maynard and Brandon Thomas-Asante both forced saves from Alnwick late on and Ben Reeves hit the bar with a free-kick but they were unable to grab an equaliser.
The visitors will be without striker Anton Forrester after he sustained an hamstring injury in their 2-0 defeat to bottom club Coventry City a fortnight ago and is expected to be ruled out for little short of a month. They will however be boosted by the return of midfielder Paulo Tavares, who returns from suspension after picking up five yellow cards. Meanwhile Player-Coach Michael Brown will be looking to be included in the team to face his former club at Bramall Lane tomorrow.
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