A single goal gave Rovers all three points and kept the side's play off dreams alive at the Memorial Stadium this afternoon.

After an uneventful first half, Kuffour was credited with the only goal of the game after he deflected Chris Lines' shot into the net.

At the other end, Mikkel Andersen saved a Jermaine Easter penalty to keep Rovers in the lead.

Rovers are now just four points outside the play off spots with six games left to play.

Darryl Duffy was recalled from Carlisle to today's starting line up to replace Paul Heffernan, and the Scot almost marked his return with a goal just minutes after kick off.

Manager Paul Trollope was also without two other regular first team members who were both suspended.

Byron Anthony served the second of his two match ban for picking up 10 yellow cards, and Jeff Hughes was suspended after receiving a straight red card against Carlisle on Friday.

Danny Coles returned to the side after the birth of his daughter Phoenix on Thursday. Carl Regan remained at right back while Ben Swallow came in to replace Hughes on the left.

Duffy's dream start almost came after he got on to the end of a Jo Kuffour pass. Duffy let fly with a volley, that Dons keeper Stuart Searle just managed to get his hands to.

MK Dons then had a chance when Mark Randall hit a shot from the edge of the area, but it flew harmlessly wide.

Rovers had a penalty shout turned down after Jo Kuffour felt he was being held in the box just after the 15 minute mark.

Before the Dons captain Dean Lewington sent in a shot which saw Andersen dive acrobatically to tip the ball away. Then Andersen was called into action again to block an attempt from Mark Randall after a goal mouth scramble.

Steve Elliott cleared a shot on the line, but his header went only as far as Mark Carrington on the edge of the box, but his attempted flew high over the bar.

Just before the half time whistle Aaron Wilbraham let fly with a shot straight at Andersen.

Rovers took the lead on 56 minutes thanks to Lines and Kuffour. Lines powered his free kick into the wall, but was ready to follow up the rebound, which deflected off Kuffour and into the back of the net.

And 10 minutes later Andersen was the hero when he pulled off his first penalty save for Bristol Rovers. Danny Coles was penalised for a foul on Luke Chadwick, but the big Dane dived to his left to deny Easter from the spot.

MK Dons were forced to make a change when Stephen Gleeson left the field on a stretcher, to be replaced by Luke Howell.

Kuffour nearly doubled the lead shortly after when he lofted a ball up from the edge of the area, but quick reactions from Searle allowed him to tip the ball over the bar.

Then substitute Andy Williams linked up well with Kuffour down the right, but Williams' cross in to the box just evaded the advancing Ben Swallow.

In the dying minutes Andersen made another good block, when he reacted quickly to deny Easter with his feet.

And Lines nearly worked some magic from another trade mark free kick deep into stoppage time. The fierce 30-yard strike produced a finger tip save from Searle and saw the game finish 1-0.

The play off ambitions are still well and truly alive going into this weekend's trip to Oldham and the visit of Southampton next Tuesday.

Team: Mikkel Andersen, Carl Regan, Steve Elliott, Danny Coles, Daniel Jones, Dominic Blizzard, Chris Lines, Stuart Campbell, Ben Swallow, Darryl Duffy (Andy Williams), Jo Kuffour

Substitutes: Charlie Reece, Charlie Clough, Eliot Richards, Mark Wright, Ollie Clarke, Rhys Evans

MK Dons: Stuart Searle, Dean Lewington, Mathias Doumbe, David McCracken, Mark Carrington, Danny Woodwards (Darren Powell), Stephen Gleeson (Luke Howell), Mark Randall, Luck Chadwick, Jermaine Easter, Aaron Wilbraham.

Substitutes: Sol Davis, Adam Chicksen, Tom Flanagan, George Williams, George Baldock.

Referee: Mr Keith Stroud.