MK Dons leapt five places to second in the table as Stephen Gleeson's late goal at Prenton Park secured their fourth successive league win.

It was no more than they deserved after dominating possession for much of the game against the League One leaders.

Ryan Lowe shot wide after an early slip by Ash Taylor and Dean Lewington later had a header blocked on the line.

But Owain Fon Williams failed to hold Dean Bowditch's cross and Gleeson stabbed home his second of the season.

Rovers posed only a fleeting threat in attack in front of a 10,587 crowd, with James Wallace forcing Dons keeper Dave Martin into his only meaningful save on the hour.

Having seen his defence discomfited by the slick interplay of the visitors in the opening period, manager Ronnie Moore took off striker Jake Jervis at half-time to reinforce his midfield with Danny Harrison.

It meant the Dons had less space and time on the ball but they still had the best opportunities, with Lewington meeting Bowditch's corner, only to see Wallace perfectly placed by the post to deny him a goal.

A stalemate looked on the cards after that but Gleeson had other ideas as he struck with three minutes to go to inflict only Tranmere's second home defeat of the season.

Lineup, Bookings (3) & Substitutions (5)

Tranmere Rovers

  • 01 fon Williams
  • 02 Holmes
  • 04 Taylor
  • 14 Bakayogo
  • 21 Gibson Booked
  • 06 Palmer
  • 08 Wallace
  • 10 Robinson
  • 09 Cassidy
  • 11 McGurk (Stockton - 90' )
  • 24 Jervis Booked (Harrison - 46' )

Substitutes

  • 33 Mooney
  • 05 Goodison
  • 19 Kay
  • 12 Harrison
  • 15 Kirby
  • 17 Power
  • 16 Stockton

Milton Keynes Dons

  • 01 Martin
  • 02 Otsemobor
  • 03 Lewington
  • 24 Kay
  • 06 Williams
  • 07 Gleeson
  • 08 Potter
  • 26 Chadwick (Doumbe - 89' )
  • 09 Bowditch
  • 14 Lowe (Smith - 58' Booked )
  • 29 Balanta (Powell - 64' )

Substitutes

  • 16 McLoughlin
  • 04 Doumbe
  • 12 Chicksen
  • 11 Smith
  • 17 Powell
  • 23 O'Shea
  • 28 Sekajja
Ref: Naylor
Att: 10,587

Match Stats

Shots

5 22

On target

0 14

Corners

2 5

Fouls

9 16

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:03 Full time

Full Time The final whistle goes and the game is over.

89:58

Indirect free kick taken by Owain Fon Williams.

89:58 Booking

Booking Alan Smith goes into the book.

89:54

Free kick awarded for a foul by Alan Smith on James Wallace.

87:36

Indirect free kick taken by David Martin.

87:36 Substitution

Substitution Adam McGurk goes off and Cole Stockton comes on.

87:36 Substitution

Substitution Mathias Doumbe on for Luke Chadwick.

87:36

Corner taken by Andy Robinson from the right by-line, clearance made by Antony Kay. Andy Robinson takes a outswinging corner from the right by-line to the near post, free kick awarded for a foul by Jake Cassidy on Alan Smith.

86:25

The assist for the goal came from Daniel Powell.

86:25 Goal scored

Goal - Stephen Gleeson - Tranmere 0 - 1 MK Dons Goal scored by Stephen Gleeson from close in to the bottom right corner of the goal. Tranmere 0-1 Milton Keynes Dons.

85:22

Alan Smith challenges James Wallace unfairly and gives away a free kick. Ben Gibson takes the direct free kick.

84:39

Shot from just outside the box by Jake Cassidy misses to the right of the target.

82:33

Dean Bowditch takes a shot. Blocked by Ash Taylor. Inswinging corner taken by Shaun Williams from the right by-line.

76:04

Antony Kay has an effort at goal from just outside the penalty box which goes wide of the left-hand post.

74:13

Jake Cassidy is caught offside. David Martin takes the indirect free kick.

73:38

Shaun Williams takes a shot. Owain Fon Williams makes a save.

73:08

The ball is sent over by Antony Kay, clearance made by Ash Taylor. The referee blows for offside against Jake Cassidy. Antony Kay takes the free kick.

70:11

Free kick awarded for a foul by Alan Smith on Ben Gibson. Direct free kick taken by Danny Harrison.

69:47

Handball by Stephen Gleeson. Danny Harrison takes the free kick.

68:18

Dean Bowditch takes a shot. Blocked by Ben Gibson. Inswinging corner taken by Dean Bowditch, Dean Lewington takes a shot. Clearance made by Danny Harrison.

66:12

Free kick awarded for a foul by Dean Bowditch on Ben Gibson. Owain Fon Williams restarts play with the free kick.

65:38

James Wallace challenges Stephen Gleeson unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Dean Lewington.

65:07

Alan Smith challenges Ash Taylor unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Danny Holmes.

64:36

Stephen Gleeson concedes a free kick for a foul on Jake Cassidy. Free kick taken by Ash Taylor.

63:46 Substitution

Substitution Daniel Powell on for Angelo Balanta.

63:16

Andy Robinson delivers the ball, Shaun Williams makes a clearance.

62:02

The ball is crossed by Andy Robinson, clearance made by Shaun Williams.

59:02

Darren Potter takes a shot. Save by Owain Fon Williams.

57:35

Foul by Andy Robinson on Stephen Gleeson, free kick awarded. Dean Lewington takes the free kick.

57:05 Substitution

Substitution Alan Smith comes on in place of Ryan Lowe.

55:48

Foul by Dean Bowditch on Danny Harrison, free kick awarded. Danny Holmes restarts play with the free kick.

54:26

Unfair challenge on Ben Gibson by Ryan Lowe results in a free kick. Owain Fon Williams takes the indirect free kick.

53:33

The ball is sent over by Angelo Balanta, Ben Gibson makes a clearance. Centre by Dean Bowditch, Header by Darren Potter from deep inside the penalty area misses to the right of the target.

52:55

The ball is delivered by Stephen Gleeson, Danny Holmes makes a clearance. Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Dean Bowditch played to the near post, Liam Palmer manages to make a clearance.

51:26

The ball is delivered by Liam Palmer, Shaun Williams makes a clearance.

50:57

Adam McGurk sends in a cross, save by David Martin.

50:22

Free kick awarded for a foul by Darren Potter on Adam McGurk. Ben Gibson takes the direct free kick.

49:06

Unfair challenge on Antony Kay by Jake Cassidy results in a free kick. Antony Kay takes the free kick.

48:17

The referee blows for offside against Jake Cassidy. Free kick taken by Stephen Gleeson.

47:56

Centre by Angelo Balanta, Ben Gibson manages to make a clearance.

46:37

Centre by Danny Holmes.

45:40

Jon Otsemobor is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Free kick taken by Ben Gibson.

45:01

The referee gets the second half underway.

45:01 Substitution

Substitution Danny Harrison is brought on as a substitute for Jake Jervis.

45:00 +1:11 Half time

Half Time The first half comes to an end.

45:00 +0:17

The ball is delivered by James Wallace.

44:28

The ball is crossed by James Wallace, Shaun Williams makes a clearance.

43:42

Luke Chadwick gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Adam McGurk. The free kick is delivered left-footed by Adam McGurk from left wing, Antony Kay manages to make a clearance.

42:35

Dean Bowditch is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Owain Fon Williams restarts play with the free kick.

41:11

The assistant referee flags for offside against Luke Chadwick. Owain Fon Williams takes the indirect free kick.

39:35

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Andy Robinson by Angelo Balanta. Owain Fon Williams takes the direct free kick.

37:01

Adam McGurk fouled by Jon Otsemobor, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick crossed left-footed by Adam McGurk from left wing, save made by David Martin.

36:23

Effort on goal by Luke Chadwick from just outside the area goes harmlessly over the target.

35:11

Dean Lewington takes a shot. Save by Owain Fon Williams.

34:59

Ryan Lowe crosses the ball, clearance by Ben Gibson.

34:44

The referee blows for offside. Free kick taken by Antony Kay.

33:59

James Wallace has a shot on goal from outside the area which misses right.

33:01

The ball is swung over by Andy Robinson.

32:19

Luke Chadwick takes a shot. Blocked by Ben Gibson.

31:48

The assistant referee signals for offside against Jake Jervis. Antony Kay takes the indirect free kick.

31:20

Ryan Lowe takes a shot. Ash Taylor makes a clearance.

30:18

Dean Bowditch produces a cross, Ben Gibson manages to make a clearance. Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Dean Bowditch.

29:18

Unfair challenge on James Wallace by Dean Bowditch results in a free kick. Zoumana Bakayogo restarts play with the free kick.

27:13

The ball is swung over by James Wallace, Effort on goal by Jake Cassidy from deep inside the penalty area misses to the right of the goal.

25:50

Luke Chadwick takes a shot from inside the box clearing the bar.

24:54

Ryan Lowe takes a shot. Save by Owain Fon Williams.

23:53

Darren Potter restarts play with the free kick.

23:53 Booking

Booking Booking for Jake Jervis.

23:42

Free kick awarded for a foul by Jake Jervis on Luke Chadwick.

22:28

Dean Lewington produces a shot on goal direct from the free kick, save by Owain Fon Williams. Corner taken by Shaun Williams from the right by-line, Danny Holmes makes a clearance.

22:28 Booking

Booking The referee cautions Ben Gibson for unsporting behaviour.

22:00

Ben Gibson concedes a free kick for a foul on Ryan Lowe.

21:24

Adam McGurk has an effort at goal from just inside the box that misses to the right of the target.

19:27

Luke Chadwick delivers the ball, Stephen Gleeson takes a shot. Blocked by Danny Holmes. Darren Potter has an effort at goal from outside the box which goes wide left of the target.

15:22

Shaun Williams has an effort at goal and missed to the left of the goal.

14:50

Angelo Balanta delivers the ball, clearance by Ash Taylor. Jon Otsemobor crosses the ball, Liam Palmer makes a clearance.

13:13

Ryan Lowe takes a shot. Save made by Owain Fon Williams.

12:34

Luke Chadwick takes a shot. Save made by Owain Fon Williams.

12:15

Free kick awarded for a foul by Jake Cassidy on Antony Kay. Direct free kick taken by Antony Kay.

11:56

The ball is crossed by Jon Otsemobor, comfortable save by Owain Fon Williams.

8:13

Angelo Balanta gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Andy Robinson. Adam McGurk crosses the ball, Headed effort from inside the area by Jake Cassidy misses to the left of the goal.

7:04

Ryan Lowe produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that goes wide right of the target.

6:23

Adam McGurk challenges Luke Chadwick unfairly and gives away a free kick. Jon Otsemobor restarts play with the free kick.

5:38

Stephen Gleeson crosses the ball, Ben Gibson manages to make a clearance.

5:16

Dean Bowditch fouled by Adam McGurk, the ref awards a free kick. Stephen Gleeson takes the free kick.

3:29

Free kick awarded for a foul by Shaun Williams on Jake Jervis. Free kick taken by Danny Holmes.

2:27

Dean Bowditch produces a left-footed shot from outside the penalty box and misses left.

1:20

Ash Taylor fouled by Ryan Lowe, the ref awards a free kick. Owain Fon Williams restarts play with the free kick.

0:00

The referee gets the game started.

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