Milton Keynes Dons 1-0 Bristol Rovers
Sky Bet League Two, Stadium MK, Tuesday 27 January 2026
Bristol Rovers suffered a 1-0 defeat on the road against promotion contenders Milton Keynes Dons in Sky Bet League Two.
The Pirates were the better side for large portions of the contest and could have gone through in the first half through Fabrizio Cavegn, whose one-on-one strike was saved by Craig MacGillvray.
Instead, the Dons gained the advantage just before half-time when Callum Paterson raced into the box to get onto Aaron Collins' low cross, converting from close range with a first-time effort.
The Gas pushed for a leveller after the break, but the debutant Mees Rijks curled a shot over the bar and Shaq Forde flicked a header over, with Steve Evans' men unable to find a leveller.
The first notable chance for both contenders came as Shaq Forde played a skilful pass to Fabrizio Cavegn, who shot it low towards shot stopper Craig MacGillivray in the first 15 minutes. Forde then rolled the ball into Ellis Harrison soon after, but he stretched as he hit his effort, dragging the ball well wide of the right post.
The Dons came into the contest full of confidence after a thumping 5-1 triumph over Shrewsbury Town on the weekend and responded with a chance of their own soon after. Luke Offord connected with the ball in the heart of the box, but his powerful blast thundered off the crossbar and bounced straight back into danger before the Gas cleared their lines.
The Pirates then had a golden opportunity to gain the lead through Cavegn. As he was for the whole of the contest, Forde was at the heart of the action again, and the No7 slipped a clever pass through to Cavegn, but MacGillvray pushed behind his one-on-one strike.
Rovers had the better chances and looked to be going into the break level before the hosts took the lead. Moments after Paterson avoided a possible second yellow card for an elbow on Joel Senior, the striker got onto Collins' low cross to convert in the final minutes of additional time.
Liam Kelly tried to double the lead in the opening minutes of the second half, as he drove a right-footed strike towards the net, but his attempt was denied abruptly by Brad Young.
New signing Rijks replaced Ellis Harrison just past the hour mark and quickly made his presence felt as he curled a right-footed shot narrowly missing the top-right corner after collecting a pass from Forde.
Substitute Yusuf Akhamrich had an immediate impact on the right and was looking to get after his marker at every opportunity. He looked to get his first Rovers assist with a cleverly chipped cross towards Forde, who flicked a header over the bar.
As the visitors committed men forward, the Dons went close to doubling their advantage and confirming all three points beyond any doubt. Former Rovers man Collins played the ball into substitute Gethin Jones, but Young raced off his line to block the shot. Neither team were able to find the back of the net in the four minutes of added time, with the hosts leaving their home dugout with a narrow 1-0 victory.
Milton Keynes Dons: MacGillivray, Gilbey ©, Collins (Ekpiteta 94), Paterson (Hogan 83), Offord, Nemane (Jones 76), Nelson, Wiles (Lemonheigh-Evans 83), Matete (Kelly 46), Sanders
Subs not used: Trueman, Crowley
Bookings: Offord, Paterson, Kelly
Goals: Paterson
Bristol Rovers: Young, Senior (Akhamrich 68), Sparkes, Moore, Mola (Conteh 77), Forde, De Havilland, Balmer, Harrison © (Rijks 63), Harbottle, Cavegn
Subs not used: Southwood, Hutchinson, Thomas, Morton
Bookings: Harbottle, Sparkes, Conteh
Referee: Craig Hicks
Attendance: 6503 (454 away)
