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CLOSE . . . Peter Clarke

ATHLETIC 0, MK DONS 2

ATHLETIC fell to the foot of the division after drawing a blank at home for the fifth time in six league games.

Ben Reeves netted thanks to a mistake from Connor Ripley in the first half and Kieran Agard netted a second for the Dons against a tame Athletic side.

There wasn't too much on for Reeves but the midfield man simply touched the ball out of his feet and let fly from 30 yards in the 36th minute.

It should have been a straightforward enough save for Ripley, but a player who has stood out this season made a rare error in letting the ball squirm under his body and trickle across the line.

Though Ryan McLaughlin was probing on the left flank, Dons goalkeeper David Martin was only extended once in the first half, tipping over Freddie Ladapo's shot from the right side of the box.

Peter Clarke hit an overhead kick against the crossbar as a corner worked its way to him two minutes after half-time and at the other end, Reeves went close with a free-kick that passed a yard wide.

Samir Carruthers' inswinging free-kick was flicked in by the head of Agard after 55 minutes to hand the visitors a two-goal advantage and leave Athletic with a mountain to climb.

Agard hammered a shot against the crossbar as the Dons threatened another, while Coventry's win at Port Vale saw them rise above Stephen Robinson's side in the standings.