The man who scored the goal that sealed MK Dons promotion last May became the man largely responsible for inflicting their first defeat of the current campaign, as David Wheeler’s 90th minute winner saw Wycombe Wanderers win a pulsating game in South Bucks on Saturday.
In the eight previous meetings between the two teams, there have been three penalties (only one of which was scored) and four last minute goals, three of them going Wycombe’s way. MK have won four of those encounters, with Wycombe just the one. That occurred at Stadium MK back in April 2010 during a game that saw Wycombe go 1-0 and 2-1 up before the Dons equalised after missing a penalty only to see Wycombe win it 3-2 at the death. A club that is often accused of not having any history was about to see it repeating itself.
Both teams went into the game unbeaten in the league and without conceding a single goal, but had had mixed fortunes in the League Cup in the week with Wycombe being edged out by Reading in a penalty shoot-out and Milton Keynes getting passed AFC Wimbledon in the same way.
Gareth Ainsworth handed a league debut to Giles Phillips at centre back while opting for a front three of Fred Onyedinma, Paul Smyth and Alex Samuel, while MK Don’s manager Paul Tisdale made three changes from midweek with George Williams, Jordan Houghton and Hiram Boateng returning to the starting eleven.
Wycombe started the game on the front foot and the first opening came with just five minutes on the clock. Some neat play down the right-hand side saw Matt Bloomfield dink a cross to the far post where Onyedinma went for a spectacular overhead kick. While the Wycombe man may have hoped to get more power on the shot, he couldn’t have foreseen Lee Nicholls making a truly spectacular save.
The reprieve would last just six minutes though, for then Smyth made his way into the area with his trickery and pace. There was much talk when Smyth signed for Wycombe about how many penalties he may well win due to the aforementioned attributes and so it proved as he went down under a challenge from Houghton and referee Trevor Kettle pointed to the spot. Joe Jacobson stepped up and calmly stroked the ball home.
Joe Jacobson lines up the game’s first spot-kick
It was a deserved lead, but it awoke Milton Keynes who then grew into the game. Kieran Agard headed wide from a Boateng free-kick cross with Wycombe’s marking non-existent, before the evergreen Dean Lewington skipped a couple of challenges but saw his low effort comfortably saved by Ryan Allsop after 15 minutes. It really should have been 1-1 ten minutes later when some quick thinking from Baily Cargill turned a defensive free-kick into a superb through-ball for Jordan Bowery, but he will have been disappointed with his tame effort that was easily held by Allsop.
An equaliser seemed likely and it came on 32. Cargill showed more quick thinking with a run that was completely un-tracked and he squared for Bowery who couldn’t miss from close-range.
Just three minutes later and MK really should have taken the lead. Regan Poole firstly had an effort brilliantly saved by Allsop before his slightly tame follow-up was cleared off the line by Dominic Gape.
It was a moment they would rue, as the home side were back in front three minutes later. Samuel showed his trademark persistence and endeavour to gain control of a through ball and while it looked as though he may have dallied to long, his pass to Onyedinma was actually perfectly timed and the former Millwall man found the corner of the net. It was his second of the season and he nearly had his third just before half-time but after making space for a shot, he fired over the bar.
With just three minutes added on it looked as though Wycombe would see themselves through to the break, but the last act of the half saw Phillips foul Lewington in the area and referee Trevor Kettle awarded the visitors the game’s second penalty. Despite missing a penalty against Wimbledon in the week, Conor McGrandles stepped up but again opted for height and again fired the ball into the home terrace as the half ended 2-1.
Milton Keynes came out of the blocks quickly in the second half and Allsop made another good block, stopping Bowery’s low effort with his foot before former Wycombe man Russel Martin headed wide from the resulting corner. The deserved equaliser finally came on 50 minutes when a third penalty was awarded after Jacobson was adjudged to have fouled Agard. Debate raged as to whether it was a poor decision or a needless act from the Blues left-back, but either way it was frustrating for Wycombe as Houghton made no mistake with a powerful penalty.
Jordan Houghton lines up the game’s third spot-kick
The game then entered a comparative lull as while MK Dons enjoyed more possession, there were few meaningful efforts until Cargill fired over on 66 before Lewington bobbled an effort wide with 19 minutes to go.
That proved to be the last attack of note from Milton Keynes as Ainsworth brought on Wheeler for Smyth then, Nick Freeman for Bloomfield and finally Adebayo Akinfenwa for Samuel, thus giving Wycombe a fresh dimension in the final third.
Akinfenwa nearly had an impact after 77 minutes when Onyedinma cut the ball back to him, six yards out. The former Wimbledon man who once said he’d never play for MK even if they offered to build a Nando’s in his house would have loved to grab the winner, but he uncharacteristically fluffed his lines and the ball ran under his feet.
However, Wycombe were in the ascendency and the corner count started to build, but the impressive Alex Pattison who should have scored in the dying minutes against Bolton on opening day saw one effort charged down and another fly over the crossbar.
1,130 MK Dons fans made the trip from North Bucks to South Bucks
It didn’t matter though and with the injury time board being readied, Freeman found Wheeler and his persistence saw the goal open up allowing him to find the corner of the net and spark jubilant scenes at Adams Park as Wanderers held on to win 3-2.
It had been an entertaining game between two well set-up and hard-working teams, both of whom look well-equipped for life in League One.
Both face tough matches on Tuesday night with Wycombe travelling to Fleetwood Town and MK Dons taking on Lincoln City at home.
Having had their opening day game against Bury postponed, Milton Keynes are perhaps still finding their feet somewhat, but Wycombe could hardly have dreamed of a better start. Many people tipped them for relegation before the campaign started but many of those predictions came before Ainsworth had added such quality and depth to his squad, two factors that were showing in abundance today.
Wycombe Wanderers 3 (Jacobson 11pen, Onyedinma 37, Wheeler 90)
MK Dons 2 (Bowery 32, Houghton 51pen)
ATT: 5,243 (Away fans 1,130)
words Phil Slatter, D3D4 Wycombe Wanderers correspondent