MK Dons beaten on visit to promotion chasing Notts County

MK Dons continued their rough patch as they were beaten 3-0 by promotion chasing Notts County at Meadow Lane.

Second half goals by David McGoldrick, Nick Tsaroulla and Will Jarvis won the day for the hosts, for whom victory saw them climb to 4th place and get just two points off the automatic promotion spots in a close contest for the top 3.

The Dons continued their drift to the end of the season, meanwhile. The Dons have only won 4 League Two games in 2025, with their latest reverse leaving them 18th in the table. They are ten points above the relegation zone and 16 points off the play-offs with six games of the season remaining.

After a chastening afternoon where they conceded four at home to Fleetwood at the weekend, the Dons’ faithful had been hoping for a response from a midweek trip to Nottingham, which had been pushed back by 24 hours to avoid a clash with Nottingham Forest’s contest against Manchester United.

Former County duo Aaron Nemane and Dan Crowley made the Dons’ starting line-up, against a County side who gave a recall to ex-Dons man Conor Grant.

A first half of minimal chances saw McGoldrick head straight at Connal Trueman, Connor Lemonheigh-Evans place a strike wide at the other end, and County’s Charlie Whitaker head wide in the final moments of the opening half.

Within two minutes of the restart, Notts County seized the lead. George Abbott played a pass through to veteran striker McGoldrick, who set up space for a strike before firing a fine strike into the top corner.

Notts County made it 2-0 seven minutes later. Jarvis’ cross was only half-cleared but seemed to have fallen for Joe Tomlinson to clear. The more alert Tsaroulla, however, stole the ball off the Dons’ wing-back before beating Trueman.

The hosts would later grab a third. In the 74th minute, Grant’s pass released Jarvis, who cut inside and fired in a strike from outside the box.

Aside from one wayward Luke Offord shot in between the second and third goals, the Dons offered little signs they would manage a comeback and suffered another defeat as their season continues to peter out.

Ben Gladwin’s side are next in action on Saturday, when they welcome fellow bottom half side Barrow to Stadium MK.