Walsall went into their final EFL Trophy group game on the back of two disappointing group stage defeats and in search of a welcome win and an extremely slim chance of securing a spot in the Second Round stage.
The first-half was a competitive though goalless affair with neither side able to find the back of the net.
The first goal of the game arrived shortly after the game had reached the hour mark as Henry Lawrence rifled the ball past Walsall stopper Owen Evans, putting the visitors on course for a place in the next round.
MK Dons went on to double their lead in the dying embers of the second-half as substitute Nathan Holland put the ball beyond Evans with a well-placed free-kick.
PAPA JOHN'S TROPHY
| WALSALL | 0-2 | MK DONS |
| GOALS | LAWRENCE (62') HOLLAND (90+3') |
|
| 43 | POSS (%) | 57 |
| 14 | SHOTS (TOTAL) | 8 |
| 3 | SHOTS (ON TARGET) | 4 |
| 8 | CORNERS | 2 |
| 13 | FOULS | 9 |
| 4 | YELLOW CARDS | 0 |
| 0 | RED CARDS | 0 |
| AT | POUNDLAND BESCOT STADIUM |
| ATTENDANCE | 1,070 (57) |
| REFEREE | SCOTT TALLIS |
WALSALL
Evans; White, Comley 🟨, Monthé; Bennett 🟨; Maddox 🟨, Hutchinson, Gordon (Allen, 73' 🟨); Cashman (Maher, 73'); Williams (Johnson, 73'), James-Taylor (Abraham, 74')
Unused: Clarke; Kinsella, Mukuna
MILTON KEYNES DONS
Ravizzoli; Jules, Tucker, O'Hora, Smith, Robson, Grant (Holland, 58'), Burns (Barry, 57'), Lawrence, Devoy, Dennis (Kayode, 58')
Unused: Martin; Oyegoke, Kemp, Tripp