Peter Leven and Jason Puncheon scored late goals to help Milton Keynes Dons win their fifth game in six against luckless Bristol Rovers.
Steve Elliott and Jo Kuffour headed on to the bar for the Pirates who defended doggedly and hit on the counter-attack.
Leven put the Dons in front from the penalty spot after Elliott had shoved over Mathias Doumbe before Puncheon rifled in from 20 yards.
Chris Lines nodded in a consolation from a corner deep in stoppage time.
MK Dons assistant manager Karl Robinson told BBC Three Counties Radio:
"The pleasing thing today was that it was a solid, strong performance, and that's the sort of performance that good teams need to put in.
"We had 76% of the possession in the first half, which is frightening.
"It is only going to be increasingly difficult when teams come here because their game plan is going to be defensive. "
Bristol Rovers manager Paul Trollope told BBC Radio Bristol:
"There's a sense of us feeling hard done by. We had a change of system that we took to very well and defensively we seemed to have a good edge to us."
"The fans were terrific today. I think they appreciated that the players played with a pride and a spirit for the shirt."
"We're not panicking. We need a positive and strong mentality to work our way out of it and we will."
"The difference is we were very clinical in the opposition's box and our goals-to-chances ratio was very good. Unfortunately that's not the case at the moment."
90:00+3:51 The referee blows his whistle to end the game.
90:00+2:10 Assist by Stuart Campbell.
90:00+2:10 GOAL - Darryl Duffy:MK Dons 2 - 1 Bristol Rovers Darryl Duffy grabs a headed goal from close in. Milton Keynes Dons 2-1 Bristol Rovers.
90:00+1:45 Outswinging corner taken by Stuart Campbell,
90:00+0:53 Substitution (Milton Keynes Dons) makes a substitution, with Aaron Doran coming on for Martin Devaney.
90:00+0:23 Substitution Stephen Gleeson leaves the field to be replaced by Luke Howell.
89:23 Assist on the goal came from Peter Leven.
89:23 GOAL - Jason Puncheon:MK Dons 2 - 0 Bristol Rovers Jason Puncheon fires in a goal from outside the penalty box to the top left corner of the goal. Milton Keynes Dons 2-0 Bristol Rovers.
89:13 A cross is delivered by Peter Leven,
87:19 Aaron Wilbraham fouled by Byron Anthony, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Peter Leven. Free kick awarded for a foul by David McCracken on Chris Dickson. Indirect free kick taken by Stuart Campbell.
84:31 Foul by Steve Elliott on Aaron Wilbraham, free kick awarded. Indirect free kick taken by Jason Puncheon.
84:01 Unfair challenge on Mathias Doumbe by Darryl Duffy results in a free kick. Indirect free kick taken by Willy Gueret.
81:25 Peter Leven has an effort at goal from outside the box which goes wide right of the target.
81:02 Corner taken by Jason Puncheon, Mikkel Andersen makes a save.
80:43 Jason Puncheon takes a shot. Mikkel Andersen makes a save.
79:50 Darryl Duffy is ruled offside. Willy Gueret restarts play with the free kick.
78:20 Stuart Campbell takes the free kick.
78:20 Substitution Darryl Duffy on for Jeff Hughes.
78:20 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Mark Wright by Stephen Gleeson.
77:10 Willy Gueret fouled by Jo Kuffour, the ref awards a free kick. Willy Gueret takes the indirect free kick.
72:55 Substitution Chris Lines is brought on as a substitute for Dominic Blizzard.
72:39 Substitution Chris Dickson comes on in place of Andrew Williams.
70:42 GOAL - Peter Leven:MK Dons 1 - 0 Bristol Rovers Placed penalty scored by Peter Leven. Milton Keynes Dons 1-0 Bristol Rovers.
69:50 Booking Steve Elliott receives a yellow card.
69:26 The ball is crossed by Jason Puncheon, Penalty awarded for a foul by Steve Elliott on Mathias Doumbe.
69:11 Short corner worked by Martin Devaney.
68:17 A cross is delivered by Martin Devaney, Effort from deep inside the area by Sam Baldock clears the bar.
67:19 The referee gives a free kick against Andrew Williams for handball. Dean Lewington takes the free kick.
65:02 Substitution Sam Baldock is brought on as a substitute for Jermaine Easter.
63:16 Effort on goal by Jermaine Easter from just inside the area clears the bar.
61:35 Mathias Doumbe gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Mark Wright. The ball is swung over by Stuart Campbell, Dominic Blizzard produces a left-footed shot from deep inside the penalty box which goes wide of the left-hand upright.
60:39 Inswinging corner taken by Martin Devaney, save by Mikkel Andersen.
59:12 Shot by Jermaine Easter from deep inside the penalty area misses to the left of the goal.
58:41 Unfair challenge on Aaron Wilbraham by Mark Wright results in a free kick. David McCracken takes the indirect free kick.
58:06 Stephen Gleeson challenges Dominic Blizzard unfairly and gives away a free kick. Aaron Lescott takes the indirect free kick.
55:18 The referee blows for offside against Mark Wright. Indirect free kick taken by Willy Gueret.
54:29 Mark Wright sends in a cross, Jo Kuffour takes a shot.
53:49 Corner from the right by-line taken by Stuart Campbell, Mathias Doumbe makes a clearance.
53:20 Andrew Williams has an effort at goal. Willy Gueret makes a save.
51:17 Aaron Wilbraham concedes a free kick for a foul on Mikkel Andersen. Mikkel Andersen restarts play with the free kick.
49:49 Short corner worked by Jason Puncheon.
48:01 The offside flag is raised against Andrew Williams. Indirect free kick taken by Willy Gueret.
47:32 Dean Lewington challenges Jo Kuffour unfairly and gives away a free kick. Indirect free kick taken by Byron Anthony.
47:00 Foul by Stuart Campbell on Peter Leven, free kick awarded. Indirect free kick taken by Stephen Gleeson.
45:01 The referee starts the second half.
Half Time
45:00+1:02 The first half comes to an end.
44:23 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Andrew Williams by Stephen Gleeson. Free kick crossed right-footed by Stuart Campbell, save by Willy Gueret.
40:19 Foul by Aaron Wilbraham on Steve Elliott, free kick awarded. Indirect free kick taken by Byron Anthony.
39:32 Peter Leven challenges Aaron Lescott unfairly and gives away a free kick. Mikkel Andersen takes the free kick.
38:53 Jermaine Easter concedes a free kick for a foul on Stuart Campbell. Indirect free kick taken by Stuart Campbell.
37:16 Aaron Lescott challenges Martin Devaney unfairly and gives away a free kick. Jason Puncheon crosses the ball in from the free kick, Mikkel Andersen makes a save.
35:25 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Aaron Wilbraham by Byron Anthony. Jason Puncheon produces a strike on goal direct from the free kick.
34:06 Corner taken by Jason Puncheon from the right by-line to the near post.
33:24 Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Martin Devaney from the left by-line, clearance made by Steve Elliott.
28:04 Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Stuart Campbell from the right by-line, Aaron Wilbraham makes a clearance.
27:18 Jo Kuffour fouled by David McCracken, the ref awards a free kick. The free kick is swung in right-footed by Stuart Campbell, clearance by Aaron Wilbraham.
20:13 Steve Elliott fouled by Aaron Wilbraham, the ref awards a free kick. Steve Elliott restarts play with the free kick.
19:02 Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Stuart Campbell, Steve Elliott takes a shot.
18:11 Corner taken right-footed by Stuart Campbell from the left by-line to the near post, clearance made by Danny Swailes.
14:07 Inswinging corner taken by Jason Puncheon from the right by-line played to the near post, clearance by Aaron Lescott.
13:56 Centre by Martin Devaney, blocked by Stuart Campbell.
11:14 Stephen Gleeson concedes a free kick for a foul on Byron Anthony. Carl Regan takes the free kick.
Correction - 6:25 Aaron Wilbraham fouled by Stuart Campbell, the ref awards a free kick. Indirect free kick taken by Stephen Gleeson.
6:25 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Aaron Wilbraham by Stuart Campbell. Stephen Gleeson restarts play with the free kick.
4:09 Jason Puncheon takes a inswinging corner from the right by-line played to the near post.
3:28 Corner taken by Jason Puncheon from the right by-line played to the near post, Aaron Lescott manages to make a clearance.
0:06 Andrew Williams challenges Dean Lewington unfairly and gives away a free kick. Dean Lewington takes the free kick.
0:00 The match has kicked off.
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