MK Dons 3 Fleetwood Town 1: Mason's first-half hat-trick sinks visitors

Kyle Vassell is denied a first Fleetwood goal by MK Dons keeper Andrew Fisher

Charlie Mulgrew: Fleetwood are playing good football but it's wins we want

Town paid for a poor first-half performance as Joe Mason's hat-trick inside 27 minutes put the game to bed.

Substitute Sam Finley produced a lovely late strike but it proved no more than a consolation for the off-colour visitors.

The Cod Army were much improved in the second half and had some excellent chances to get MK Dons’ nerves jangling, but Sam Finley's strike in the 83rd minute was too little, too late.

Wiles' visitors, who welcomed Danny Andrew back to their starting line-up, had a brilliant early chance when Josh Morris was put through after a minute. The forward looked offside but his effort was superbly saved by Andrew Fisher.

However, MK Dons settled into their stride and following a poor clearance by keeper Joe Hilton, Ethan Laird’s excellent pass on four minutes found Mason and he coolly slotted home.

After a quiet period, the game burst to life on 21 minutes as the Dons extended their advantage, with Mason doing the damage again.

Paul Coutts was robbed by Scott Fraser before the ball fell to Mason, who slammed home.

Things went from bad to worse on 27 minutes for Fleetwood as that man Mason strolled through thedefence to stroke home past a helpless Hilton.

After a dismal opening 45 minutes, Fleetwood needed to come out of the blocks quickly in the second half if they were going to salvage anything from the game.

They had a hint of an opening on 51 minutes, when Kyle Vassell’s fizzing cross was just about scrambled clear by the home defence.

A minute later, Vassell’s lightning pace got him behind the Dons rearguard but the latest signing's curling effort was brilliantly tipped away by Fisher before Warren O’Hora just beat Paddy Madden to the rebound.

The away side had some momentum for the first time in the game and substitute Sam Finley, who had replaced Coutts at the break, crashed a magnificent shot against the crossbar on 53 minutes, with Fisher beaten.

The Cod Army had a huge shout for a penalty turned down on 68 minutes, when Callum Camps appeared to be pushed by Regan Poole but referee Antony Coggins waved away the protests.

Town had a golden chance on 77 minutes when Madden’s clever pass found Vassell, who was denied at point-blank range by Fisher.

Finley pulled a goal back with an instinctive finish before Camps and Vassell had further opportunities but the Dons saw out the game very well to move within a point of Town.

This was a third defeat in eight days for Fleetwood under Wiles and the interim boss will be anxious to bounce back at Wigan Athletic on Saturday.

MK Dons: Fisher, Poole, O'Hora, Lewington, Laird (Sorinola 57), Sorensen (Freeman 84), Gladwin, Fraser, Harvie, Jerome (Brown 84), Mason (Johnson 71); Subs not used: Nicholls, Williams, Davies.

Fleetwood: Hilton, Connolly, Hill (Holgate 65), Mulgrew, Andrew (Rydel 80), Whelan (Rossiter 81), Camps, Coutts (Finley 45), J Morris (S Morris 80), Vassell, Madden; Subs not used: Duffy, Saunders.

Referee: Antony Coggins

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