MK Dons extended their unbeaten run away from home to six games with victory over Hartlepool.
The game's only goal came when Evan Horwood's attempted backpass fell to Daniel Powell, who rounded Scott Flinders to score from a tight angle.
The Pools dominated the second half and were unlucky not to equalise when Ryan Donaldson's volley hit the crossbar.
Sam Collins also saw his late effort come off the woodwork before Antony Sweeney headed the rebound wide.
MK Dons manager Karl Robinson told BBC Three Counties Radio: "It was a pretty dour game if I am being honest. There wasn't a great deal of football played by either team.
"If you want to be successful, you sometimes have to come to places and grind a result out. Our back four were absolutely tremendous.
"I hope this is the start now of a run where we stop conceding silly goals."
Live text and stats
Saturday, 19 February 2011
Npower League One
Home Team
Score
Away Team
Time
Hartlepool
0-1
MK Dons
FT
(HT 0-1)
Powell 45
Hartlepool
01 Flinders
05 Collins
06 Horwood
16 Haslam
29 Hartley yellow card
03 Humphreys (Brown 70)
04 Liddle yellow card
11 Monkhouse
15 Sweeney
20 Murray (Larkin 70)
36 Donaldson (McSweeney 84)
Substitutes
21 Rafferty,
07 McSweeney,
08 Gamble,
12 Yantorno,
10 Boyd,
14 Brown,
23 Larkin
MK Dons
01 Martin
03 Lewington
04 Doumbe
05 MacKenzie
06 O'Hanlon
21 Marsh-Brown (Guy 77)
07 Gleeson
22 Leven
26 Chadwick
27 Powell yellow card (Sterling 83)
09 Vine yellow card (Hughes 66)
Substitutes
17 Searle,
02 Sterling,
15 Woodards,
23 Chicksen,
16 Hughes,
08 Amoo,
14 Guy
Ref: SuttonAtt: 2,620
HARTLEPOOL
MK DONS
Possession
Hartlepool55%
MK Dons45%
Attempts on target
Hartlepool1
MK Dons2
Attempts off target
Hartlepool10
MK Dons3
Corners
Hartlepool4
MK Dons0
Fouls
Hartlepool14
MK Dons9
Final Result
Full Time
90:00+6:13 The match has reached full-time.
90:00+5:37 Effort on goal by Leon McSweeney from deep inside the penalty area misses to the right of the goal.
90:00+5:24 The referee blows for offside. Indirect free kick taken by Scott Flinders.
90:00+2:14 A cross is delivered by Leon McSweeney, comfortable save by David Martin.
90:00+0:57 Free kick awarded for a foul by Peter Hartley on Mathias Doumbe. Stephen Gleeson takes the direct free kick.
90:00+0:57 Booking The referee books Peter Hartley for unsporting behaviour.
87:50 Lewis Guy is ruled offside. Scott Flinders restarts play with the free kick.
85:45 The official flags Jude Stirling offside. Direct free kick taken by Steven Haslam.
84:44 Colin Larkin produces a left-footed shot from just outside the box that goes wide left of the goal.
84:25 Outswinging corner taken by Evan Horwood from the left by-line, Gary MacKenzie manages to make a clearance.
84:17 Evan Horwood delivers the ball, clearance made by Peter Leven.
83:37 Substitution Leon McSweeney comes on in place of Ryan Donaldson.
83:02 Headed effort from inside the penalty area by Antony Sweeney misses to the right of the target.
82:47 Shot by Sam Collins.
82:06 Steven Haslam fouled by Stephen Hughes, the ref awards a free kick. Scott Flinders restarts play with the free kick.
82:06 Substitution Jude Stirling on for Daniel Powell.
79:28 Gary Liddle gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Lewis Guy. Free kick taken by Mathias Doumbe.
79:28 Booking Gary Liddle is booked.
77:37 Booking Caution for Daniel Powell.
76:06 Substitution Keanu Marsh-Brown goes off and Lewis Guy comes on.
75:52 James Brown produces a left-footed shot from just outside the box that misses to the right of the goal.
75:25 Evan Horwood delivers the ball, David Martin makes a comfortable save.
75:02 Corner taken left-footed by Evan Horwood, save by David Martin.
73:12 Gary MacKenzie concedes a free kick for a foul on Ryan Donaldson. Free kick crossed left-footed by Evan Horwood from right wing, Peter Leven makes a clearance.
72:20 Luke Chadwick fouled by Andy Monkhouse, the ref awards a free kick. Peter Leven restarts play with the free kick.
70:45 Colin Larkin has a shot on goal from outside the box which misses right.
69:49 Substitution Ritchie Humphreys goes off and James Brown comes on.
69:49 Substitution Paul Murray goes off and Colin Larkin comes on.
68:08 Stephen Gleeson fouled by Gary Liddle, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Gary MacKenzie.
65:51 Gary Liddle delivers the ball, Andy Monkhouse concedes a free kick for a foul on Gary MacKenzie. Free kick taken by David Martin.
65:51 Substitution Stephen Hughes is brought on as a substitute for Rowan Vine.
62:59 Ryan Donaldson concedes a free kick for a foul on Gary MacKenzie. Direct free kick taken by David Martin.
61:53 The referee gives a free kick against Luke Chadwick for handball. The ball is crossed by Evan Horwood, Peter Hartley takes a shot. Save made by David Martin.
60:45 Keanu Marsh-Brown has shot on goal from just outside the area which goes wide of the right-hand upright.
58:41 Rowan Vine produces a cross.
57:57 Centre by Evan Horwood, clearance made by Sean O'Hanlon.
56:42 Daniel Powell fouled by Steven Haslam, the ref awards a free kick. David Martin takes the direct free kick.
53:33 Foul by Sean O'Hanlon on Scott Flinders, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Scott Flinders.
53:00 Foul by Sam Collins on Rowan Vine, free kick awarded. The free kick is delivered left-footed by Peter Leven from left wing, comfortable save by Scott Flinders.
51:17 Unfair challenge on Paul Murray by Rowan Vine results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Evan Horwood.
50:46 Ryan Donaldson takes a shot.
48:51 Effort on goal by Rowan Vine from just inside the box goes harmlessly over the target.
46:54 Unfair challenge on Peter Leven by Ryan Donaldson results in a free kick. Mathias Doumbe takes the direct free kick.
46:12 The ball is sent over by Ritchie Humphreys.
45:01 The referee starts the second half.
Half Time
45:00+1:08 The players leave the pitch at half time.
44:29 GOAL - Daniel Powell:Hartlepool 0 - 1 MK Dons Goal scored by Daniel Powell from inside the box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Hartlepool 0-1 Milton Keynes Dons.
43:12 Unfair challenge on Evan Horwood by Rowan Vine results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Scott Flinders.
43:12 Booking Caution for Rowan Vine.
40:52 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Gary MacKenzie by Sam Collins. David Martin restarts play with the free kick.
40:06 The ball is delivered by Evan Horwood, clearance made by Dean Lewington.
37:55 Peter Leven fouled by Antony Sweeney, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Peter Leven.
32:21 Centre by Ritchie Humphreys.
30:20 Evan Horwood produces a cross, Dean Lewington manages to make a clearance.
29:02 The ball is sent over by Gary Liddle, Antony Sweeney produces a volleyed right-footed shot from deep inside the penalty area which goes wide of the left-hand post.
22:57 Ryan Donaldson fouled by Sean O'Hanlon, the ref awards a free kick. Paul Murray crosses the ball from the free kick right-footed from left wing.
22:42 The ball is swung over by Mathias Doumbe, Scott Flinders makes a save.
22:15 The referee blows for offside. Direct free kick taken by Dean Lewington.
17:57 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Steven Haslam by Luke Chadwick. The free kick is delivered left-footed by Evan Horwood from right wing, Gary MacKenzie manages to make a clearance.
15:36 Antony Sweeney sends in a cross, clearance made by Luke Chadwick.
14:53 Free kick awarded for a foul by Keanu Marsh-Brown on Andy Monkhouse. Scott Flinders restarts play with the free kick.
13:13 Gary Liddle gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Luke Chadwick. Direct strike on goal from the free kick comes in from Peter Leven, clearance by Sam Collins.
11:55 Effort on goal by Luke Chadwick from outside the box goes harmlessly over the bar.
11:44 The ball is swung over by Dean Lewington, save by Scott Flinders.
10:55 Foul by Steven Haslam on Keanu Marsh-Brown, free kick awarded. Peter Leven crosses the ball from the free kick left-footed from left wing, clearance by Ritchie Humphreys.
10:30 The ball is sent over by Stephen Gleeson, clearance made by Peter Hartley.
9:12 Andy Monkhouse has a shot on goal from outside the area which misses right.
8:24 Unfair challenge on Ritchie Humphreys by Keanu Marsh-Brown results in a free kick. Evan Horwood restarts play with the free kick.
7:03 Paul Murray takes a inswinging corner.
5:18 Paul Murray has shot on goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the right-hand upright.
5:08 Steven Haslam crosses the ball, clearance by Sean O'Hanlon.
3:36 Unfair challenge on Luke Chadwick by Paul Murray results in a free kick. Peter Leven restarts play with the free kick.
1:24 Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Evan Horwood from the right by-line, clearance made by Dean Lewington.
0:00 The match gets underway.
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