Milton Keynes Dons 4:1 Crawley Town
Milton Keynes Dons saw off Crawley Town 4-1 in the Group South section of the EFL Trophy on Tuesday evening. The hosts moved to within touching distance of a knockout spot, while Crawley's slim hopes took another blow. We had tipped a home win at 56 per cent confidence, and the result vindicated that call.
It was a quiet enough start until Ben Wiles broke the deadlock in the forty-second minute. The finish was neat, and by then the visitors were already feeling the pressure. A Jack Sanders goal before the break doubled the advantage and left Crawley searching for answers.
Elijah Campbell added a third shortly after the restart, and the match was slipping away. Rushian Hepburn-Murphy converted a penalty in the seventy-first minute to make it four, and Nathan Tinsdale's late reply meant the margin stayed respectable. The visitors worked the channels but found no answer.
Our prediction held because the home side looked sharper in the final third. Crawley created nothing of substance, and the hosts controlled the tempo without fuss. The old head settled them down when the game needed steadying.
Milton Keynes Dons registered fourteen shots on target and seven off target, though they created zero big chances. Crawley managed five shots on target and two off, but also failed to carve out a clear opportunity. Possession sat at 55 per cent for the home side.
The win moves MK Dons level on points with Crawley, who remain three points ahead in third place. Both sides have played three matches, and the gap could tighten further depending on Friday's fixtures. The hosts are still searching for their first victory of the campaign.
