Sam Morsy’s first-half goal ultimately proved the difference as Ipswich Town edged past MK Dons this afternoon.
The skipper fired home from outside the box on 26 minutes to make sure of the points at Stadium MK, as the Blues secured back-to-back wins for the first time since October in front of nearly 7,000 away fans.
It wasn’t always pretty, but the Blues did enough against a side in relegation trouble, while also surviving some nervy moments to keep their third clean sheet in a row.
The big hearts in mouths moments came on 10 minutes, where an incredible goalmouth scramble saw Cameron Burgess and Luke Woolfenden both make good blocks, the latter on the line, before goalkeeper Christian Walton made two excellent saves to keep out Sullay Kaikai.
Victory, coupled with Plymouth’s defeat at Peterborough this afternoon, closes the gap on second-placed Argyle to five points, with both sides having played the same number of games.
Next up for Town is a home clash with Burton Albion next weekend.
For only the second time this season, McKenna named an unchanged side for his Blues’ clash with MK Dons.
Walton started in goal, ahead of a back four of Harry Clarke, Woolfenden, Burgess and Leif Davis.
Morsy and Cameron Humphreys were in midfield, with Wes Burns, Conor Chaplin and Nathan Broadhead lining up behind striker George Hirst.
After a minute’s applause in memory of legendary commentator John Motson, the ball spent the first three minutes bouncing around the pitch, as both sides struggle to gain control of possession.
Ipswich had the first half-chance, as a Chaplin stab into danger needed to be hurriedly cleared for a corner before Hirst could reach it, before Davis rampaged down the left a few minutes later and cut the ball back for Chaplin on the edge of the box. His shot was a good one, but it flew just wide.
It looked for all the world like Dons would take the lead on 10 minutes when the hosts burst in behind the Blues down the right side, creating a succession of chances which first saw Jonathan Leko denied by a brilliant Luke Woolfenden block on the line before Sullay Kaikai was kept out by two Walton saves and to keep the scores level.
Town were looking a little edgy, as the Dons looked to attack with pace down the flanks, but the shackles were soon off when skipper Morsy intercepted the ball, advanced and let fly with a shot from outside the box which flew into the back of the MK net.
Town were ahead and the huge away following were in good voice, but the half continued to be relatively even before the whistle sent the two sides to the dressing rooms.
The Blues returned with Massimo Luongo in their ranks, in place of Humphreys, and was involved immediately as he sent a vicious shot just over the top of the crossbar.
A good chance to double the lead came and went for the visitors, when Broadhead could only turn the ball over the top of the bar from a few yards out, after Jamie Cumming could only push Morsy’s shot away.
Hirst was the next to try his luck, taking the ball well under pressure, turning and firing in a shot which was well-saved by Cumming, before resulting corner gave the MK keeper few worries before Davis’s driven delivery landed on the roof of the net.
Chaplin stung the palms of Cumming after Tennai Watson had given away possession, opening things up for Town, before McKenna turned to his bench again, introducing Freddie Ladapo and Kayden Jackson in place of Hirst and Burns.
Town turned the screw in the minutes after the double change, with Cumming needing to pull off a good double save to first keep out Chaplin and then deny Davis, with Broadhead making a good contact to head the resulting corner towards goal, only for Josh McEachran to clear off the line.
Jackson then flashed Davis’s corner over the top with a header of his own, with the latter having a shot of his own blocked away before the Blues saw out the remaining minutes to claim three more points.
MK Dons: Cumming; Watson, Tucker, Jules, Lawrence; McEachran, Maghoma; Leko (Holland, 77), Devoy (Burns, 72), Kaikai; Eisa (Grigg 88)
Subs: Ravizzoli, Smith, Robson, Johnson
Ipswich Town: Walton; Clarke (Donacien, 90), Woolfenden, Burgess, Davis; Morsy, Humphreys (Luongo, 46); Burns (Jackson, 72), Chaplin, Broadhead (Harness, 90); Hirst (Ladapo, 72)
Subs: Hladky, Edwards
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