Anthony Pilkington's 30-yarder helped Huddersfield defeat rivals MK Dons and leapfrog them into the top four.
The midfielder settled a close affair when he cut inside and drove into the top corner for his fifth of the season.
MK Dons should have already grabbed the lead before then, Peter Leven missing a penalty after Joe Skarz's handball and Peter Clarke heading onto the post.
Luke Chadwick's apparent headbutt on Tom Clarke marred matters at the end but Town held their nerve to win.
MK Dons manager Paul Ince told BBC Three Counties Radio:
"I'm very proud of the players. I thought they were absolutely fantastic today considering that's our second game in three days and Huddersfield have had nine days off.
"To play the way we did was exceptional and they should take all the credit they deserve."
Live text and stats
Monday, 28 December 2009
Npower League One
Home Team
Score
Away Team
Time
Huddersfield
1-0
MK Dons
FT
(HT 1-0)
Pilkington 27
Huddersfield
01 Smithies
02 Peltier yellow card
03 Skarz
05 P Clarke
06 N Clarke
12 T Clarke
07 Roberts (Drinkwater 89)
08 Kay
19 Pilkington yellow card
17 Rhodes
21 Novak (Robinson 77)
Substitutes
27 Glennon,
18 Butler,
22 Berrett,
25 Drinkwater,
28 Ainsworth,
09 Robinson,
10 Simpson
MK Dons
12 Gueret
03 Lewington
04 Doumbe
05 McCracken (Stirling 74 yellow card)
15 Woodards
07 Gleeson
14 Gobern (Baldock 65)
22 Leven
26 Chadwick yellow card
29 Quashie (Easter 66 yellow card)
09 Wilbraham
Substitutes
02 Stirling,
23 Powell,
21 Howell,
35 Devaney,
08 Easter,
11 Baldock,
24 D Morgan
Ref: FosterAtt: 16,086
HUDDERSFIELD
MK DONS
Possession
Huddersfield51%
MK Dons49%
Attempts on target
Huddersfield5
MK Dons2
Attempts off target
Huddersfield9
MK Dons3
Corners
Huddersfield4
MK Dons5
Fouls
Huddersfield13
MK Dons12
Final Result
Full Time
90:00+5:35 The final whistle is blown by the referee.
90:00+4:15 Booking Lee Peltier is given a yellow card.
90:00+3:47 Booking The referee shows Jermaine Easter a yellow card.
90:00+2:48 Booking Jude Stirling goes into the book.
89:18 Peter Leven fouled by Daniel Drinkwater, the ref awards a free kick. Peter Leven restarts play with the free kick, Stephen Gleeson has an effort at goal from the edge of the box that misses to the right of the target.
88:03 Substitution Daniel Drinkwater replaces Gary Roberts.
87:27 Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Peter Leven, clearance made by Peter Clarke.
86:50 Corner from the right by-line taken by Peter Leven, Peter Clarke makes a clearance.
86:15 Corner taken by Peter Leven, Aaron Wilbraham takes a shot. Peter Clarke gets a block in.
83:59 Foul by Theo Robinson on Dan Woodards, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Willy Gueret.
81:27 Effort from inside the area by Anthony Pilkington misses to the right of the goal.
80:36 Jermaine Easter produces a right-footed shot from inside the area that goes over the bar.
79:11 Inswinging corner taken by Gary Roberts, Nathan Clarke has a headed effort at goal from close range which goes wide left of the target.
78:14 Jordan Rhodes produces a headed effort from deep inside the six-yard box which goes wide of the right-hand upright.
77:17 Foul by Dan Woodards on Jordan Rhodes, free kick awarded. The ball is swung over by Gary Roberts, Jordan Rhodes takes a shot. Save by Willy Gueret.
76:29 Substitution Lee Novak leaves the field to be replaced by Theo Robinson.
75:11 Antony Kay concedes a free kick for a foul on Peter Leven. Free kick taken by Willy Gueret.
73:23 Substitution David McCracken leaves the field to be replaced by Jude Stirling.
72:38 Header from deep inside the penalty area by Jordan Rhodes goes harmlessly over the crossbar.
71:29 Peter Clarke gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Aaron Wilbraham. Stephen Gleeson crosses the ball in from the free kick.
71:02 The assistant referee signals for offside against Anthony Pilkington. Indirect free kick taken by Willy Gueret.
69:25 Header by Peter Leven from deep inside the penalty area misses to the right of the target.
67:01 Corner taken by Sam Baldock from the right by-line to the near post, clearance made by Tom Clarke.
65:17 Substitution Nigel Quashie leaves the field to be replaced by Jermaine Easter.
64:48 Substitution Sam Baldock replaces Lewis Gobern.
64:35 Jordan Rhodes takes a shot from just inside the penalty box which clears the bar.
61:02 Aaron Wilbraham challenges Peter Clarke unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Lee Peltier.
60:44 Handball decision goes against Jordan Rhodes. Willy Gueret restarts play with the free kick.
60:01 The offside flag is raised against Aaron Wilbraham. Free kick taken by Alex Smithies.
59:38 Foul by Lee Novak on Dan Woodards, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Mathias Doumbe.
57:45 Foul by Tom Clarke on Lewis Gobern, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Willy Gueret.
57:04 Foul by Lewis Gobern on Joe Skarz, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Joe Skarz.
56:26 Corner taken right-footed by Anthony Pilkington to the near post, clearance made by Mathias Doumbe.
56:13 Jordan Rhodes takes a shot. Save by Willy Gueret.
52:55 Shot by Gary Roberts from deep inside the penalty area misses to the left of the target.
51:13 Gary Roberts produces a left-footed shot from just outside the area that goes harmlessly over the target.
49:58 Willy Gueret restarts play with the free kick.
49:58 Booking Anthony Pilkington receives a yellow card.
49:33 Dan Woodards fouled by Anthony Pilkington, the ref awards a free kick.
47:29 Handball decision goes against Joe Skarz. Willy Gueret takes the free kick.
46:00 The official flags Aaron Wilbraham offside. Indirect free kick taken by Nathan Clarke.
45:01 The match restarts for the second half.
Half Time
45:00+2:22 The half-time whistle blows.
45:00+1:22 Unfair challenge on Lewis Gobern by Gary Roberts results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Willy Gueret.
45:00+0:22 Handball by Aaron Wilbraham. Free kick taken by Alex Smithies.
42:31 The referee blows for offside. Lee Peltier restarts play with the free kick.
40:51 Jordan Rhodes is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Dean Lewington takes the free kick.
38:44 Corner taken by Gary Roberts from the right by-line, Lee Novak takes a shot. Save by Willy Gueret.
37:37 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Aaron Wilbraham by Antony Kay. Luke Chadwick restarts play with the free kick.
37:04 Free kick awarded for a foul by Lewis Gobern on Antony Kay. Antony Kay takes the direct free kick.
34:44 David McCracken concedes a free kick for a foul on Jordan Rhodes. Direct free kick taken by Lee Peltier.
33:03 Stephen Gleeson has an effort at goal from 30 yards. Save made by Alex Smithies.
31:25 Inswinging corner taken by Nigel Quashie from the left by-line played to the near post, Joe Skarz makes a clearance.
29:45 Anthony Pilkington crosses the ball from the free kick right-footed from right channel, Willy Gueret makes a save.
29:45 Booking The referee cautions Luke Chadwick for unsporting behaviour.
29:26 Gary Roberts fouled by Luke Chadwick, the ref awards a free kick.
26:27 GOAL - Anthony Pilkington:Huddersfield 1 - 0 MK Dons Anthony Pilkington gets on the score sheet with a goal from just outside the penalty box to the top right corner of the goal. Huddersfield 1-0 Milton Keynes Dons.
24:10 The assistant referee flags for offside against Aaron Wilbraham. Alex Smithies takes the indirect free kick.
23:12 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Lee Novak by Luke Chadwick. Gary Roberts restarts play with the free kick.
21:51 Mathias Doumbe fouled by Lee Novak, the ref awards a free kick. Mathias Doumbe restarts play with the free kick.
20:19 Anthony Pilkington takes a shot. Save by Willy Gueret.
18:55 Jordan Rhodes fouled by David McCracken, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Anthony Pilkington.
17:01 Penalty taken by Peter Leven is saved by Alex Smithies. Huddersfield 0-0 Milton Keynes Dons.
17:01 Handball decision goes against Anthony Pilkington.
16:30 Tom Clarke gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Aaron Wilbraham. Dean Lewington restarts play with the free kick.
Correction - 13:47 Foul by Lee Peltier on Luke Chadwick, free kick awarded. Dean Lewington takes the free kick.
13:47 Unfair challenge on Luke Chadwick by Lee Peltier results in a free kick. Dean Lewington takes the free kick.
12:53 Free kick awarded for a foul by Aaron Wilbraham on Gary Roberts. A cross is delivered by Gary Roberts, Header by Peter Clarke from inside the area hits the post.
11:58 Inswinging corner taken by Gary Roberts, clearance by Dean Lewington.
10:51 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Lee Peltier by Luke Chadwick. Nathan Clarke restarts play with the free kick.
9:37 The official flags Anthony Pilkington offside. Indirect free kick taken by Willy Gueret.
8:43 Unfair challenge on Aaron Wilbraham by Peter Clarke results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Mathias Doumbe.
5:40 Unfair challenge on Jordan Rhodes by Mathias Doumbe results in a free kick. Lee Peltier restarts play with the free kick.
3:07 Foul by Lewis Gobern on Antony Kay, free kick awarded. Anthony Pilkington produces a strike on goal direct from the free kick.
1:04 The offside flag is raised against Jordan Rhodes. Willy Gueret takes the free kick.
0:00 The ref blows the whistle to begin the match.
Live text and data provided by The Press Association.
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