MK Dons take point from trip to struggling Carlisle

MK Dons picked up a point as they drew 2-2 with Carlisle United in Cumbria.

Joe Tomlinson had given the Dons a sixth minute lead, before Matt Dennis equalised for Carlisle against the club that he had began the season with.

Alex Gilbey restored the Dons’ lead, only for Kadeem Harris to equalise for Carlisle in first half stoppage time.

With no winner in the second half, the draw means MK Dons climb one spot into 17th in the League Two table. Ahead of their final 8 games of the League Two season, they are 15 points clear of the relegation zone and 13 points off the play-offs.

Having picked up a first win away from home under caretaker boss Ben Gladwin in midweek, MK Dons had hoped to push on against a Carlisle side that began the night bottom of the table. The hosts were still searching for results under Mark Hughes, who recently replaced Mike Williamson after his own ill-fated stint at Brunton Park following a departure from MK Dons for Carlisle was cut short.

MK Dons made a bright start at Carlisle, as they managed to take the lead inside six minutes. The visitors managed to release Aaron Nemane down their right hand side, and his cross fell the way of Tomlinson, who duly lashed home to put the visitors in front.

The visitors had largely kept possession in the 20 minutes or so after scoring, but Carlisle would equalise in the 26th minute. Archie Davies’ cross picked out Dennis, who headed the ball beyond Connal Trueman to score against the Dons two months on from being let go by them at the end of the January window.

But MK Dons would respond. Moments after Gilbey had a shot blocked on the line, the Dons’ captain was able to put them into the lead. Hesitant defending by Davies saw him lose possession and the ball fell for Gilbey, who advanced, rounded home keeper Gabe Breeze and then scored.

However, MK Dons couldn’t maintain their lead through to half-time. In the sixth minute of stoppage time, the Dons failed to clear their lines at a goalmouth scramble and the ball fell for Harris, who lashed it home.

Carlisle then nearly took the lead for the first time even later into stoppage time. Jordan Jones’ strike on goal was goalbound and required a fine diving save by Trueman to prevent crossing the line.

The second half had less goalmouth action than was seen before the break. Gilbey had a goal disallowed for offside, before substitute Jonathan Leko had a shot blocked after he & Tomlinson seemed to get in one another’s way.

Carlisle saw another former Dons man in Stephen Wearne miss the target late on, but the two sides settled for a draw.

MK Dons will seek to pick up a third win in five games on Saturday, when they welcome Fleetwood Town to Stadium MK.