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Having been beaten on home turf 3-1 earlier in the season, Milton Keynes Dons were out for revenge, as well as continuing their promotion ambitions, at Edgar Street against Hereford United this afternoon. Stuart Fleetwood was United's star man that day, but there was no place for him in the squad today, as Marcus Palmer took to the bench. There was a return to the starting eleven for Alan Connell too, as Graham Turner reverted to a 4-4-2 formation, with Phil Gulliver dropping to the bench.
The MK Dons were threatening from the first minute, as they got in behind Hereford's backline a couple of times but couldn't create a notable chance. It was by no means one way traffic though, as the hosts proved they haven't lost all their quality following four straight defeats, with Danny Thomas bursting forward but shooting woefully. Had he looked up to his right he'd have seen Andy Williams in acres of space, with a clear run on goal. The Bulls were much better in the middle of the park, helped by the fact that Luke Webb had a far better game than he has had of late, but in all the half was pretty equal.
Williams came closest to netting midway through the half as a Thomas cross fell to him on the right; he cut inside and hit a curling left footed effort that dropped just wide of the far post. Williams was then at the heart of a Bulls break which saw Steve Guinan inches away from meeting Connell's cross before another good move saw Connell fire into the arms of Steve Harper in the MK goal. Before the interval though Webb had to be aware at the far post as he cleared a Diallo header off the line following a corner.
No changes were made at the break and it was MK, out well before the restart, who made the early running in the second period. A cross fell to John Paul McGovern but his low effort was held by Wayne Brown before Guinan headed tamely wide at the other end from a Thomas cross. United built pressure and enjoyed a dominant spell in the game that ended in a driven Thomas free kick which was well saved down low to his right by Harper, but a minute later Brown made an even better save for Hereford. Yet another huge throw in from first half sub Stirling fell to Keith Andrews on fifty seven minutes, and he volleyed through a crowd of players in the box. The ball was destined for the back of the net but from nowhere Brown threw his arms out and turned the ball behind for a corner.
The Dons' top scorer Izale McLeod was taken off on sixty three, probably because man of the match Tamika Mkandawire had him in his pocket all afternoon, and the centre back did exactly the same with the replacement, Leon Knight, who was signed from Swansea City earlier this season. United's best chance in the second half came through a counter attack in which Williams was flawed, and after Dean Lewington was booked, but advantage was played and Travis burst into the box and flashed a ball across the goal face, just out of reach of Guinan who came sliding in.
Ben Smith, impressive in the middle once again, picked out Guinan who then crossed for Connell but the striker couldn't get the ball to drop when in a good position and the danger was cleared before United crafted another good move down the right. Travis and Guinan played a one two after a fast attack, but Travis' cross didn't match the quality of the approach play.
This was pretty typical of United's afternoon, as they couldn't seem to find that vital final pass. However, the draw earns a very respectable point against one of the top sides in the league as the Bulls once again proved they are worthy of their League status. Having stopped the rot of straight defeats, United will now look forward to next Saturday's visit of Swindon Town, who are also flying high in the league; and like today Hereford have the chance to complete a double against one of the promotion hopefulls.
HUFC: Brown, Travis, Mkandawire, Beckwith, Purdie, Thomas, Smith, Webb, Williams, Guinan, Connell. Subs: Gulliver, Thompson, Rose, Sills, Palmer.
MKDFC: Harper, Jamie Smith, O'Hanlon, Diallo, Lewington, Edds, Andrews, Blizzard, McGovern, McLeod, Platt. Subs: Watts, Stirling, Hayes,Baines, Knight.
