The Saddlers tasted defeat on the road as MK Dons claimed a 5-0 victory on home soil in Sky Bet League Two.
There were two changes to the starting XI for the Good Friday clash as Joe Foulkes and Jack Earing were replaced by Ryan Stirk as well as Captain Donervon Daniels, who returned from injury and thus made his 100th appearance for the club in the process.
The first opportunity of the contest fell to the Saddlers with just five minutes on the clock. Emmanuel Adegboyega rose high to meet Jackson Smith’s ball and J.Gordon improvised with a cute flick in behind the Dons’ defence and Mo Faal latched onto it and ran into space before taking aim with a low effort which drilled just wide of the far-post.
It wasn’t long until Faal had another opportunity on goal, this time on 13 minutes after he was played in via a brilliant lofted poss from the back by Taylor Allen and whilst the forward burst into space and got his shot at goal Michael Kelly was on hand to produce a fine save to keep the scores level.
The hosts had some bright spells of possession but were being kept out by the Saddlers defence. Their first opportunity of the game came on 26 minutes as Jack Payne shifted the ball into space onto his favoured left foot and struck from distance but it sailed over the bar.
Moments later however and the hosts took the lead. Joe Tomlinson sent in a cross from the Dons’ left-hand side and it was flicked on by Alex Gilbey before falling into the path of Emre Tezgel who tapped in from close range. The hosts tried to double their advantage before the break but the Saddlers kept them at bay as the first half concluded.
The teams came out for the second half and Sadler made a change as Faal was replaced by Ross Tierney in the Walsall attacking line.
The Dons made a bright start to the half and were presented with an opportunity to extend their lead as substitute Max Dean was tackled inside the box by Jackson Smith and despite going the right way from the resulting penalty kick, Dean converted to make it 2-0.
The Dons added a third shortly after as Alex Gilbey remained composed and slotted the ball home on 62 minutes to give the hosts breathing space.
There were further changes from the Saddlers bench after the goal as Jamille Matt and Aramide Oteh were introduced in place of Daniels and Brandon Comley and with the visitors chasing the game at this point, the Dons grabbed a fourth courtesy of Joe Tomlinson on 74 minutes.
J.Gordon was replaced by Danny Johnson as the game reached its conclusion and the scoring was completed on 78 minutes when Dean converted from close range to grab his second and MK’s fifth to seal the points in Buckinghamshire.
Attendance: 8121 (1513 away)
