Spurred on by a vocal 1230 Hereford fans, The Bulls returned from StadiumMK with a valuable point towards their quest for automatic promotion. It was a hard earned draw that most would probably have taken before the game started but credit must be given to an all-round team performance and in particular Wayne Brown who frustrated the Dons on several occasions.
Graham Turner kept faith with the same starting eleven that had opened at Darlington and the first half saw both sides strive for the illusive opening goal. With Smith prompting from midfield and Guinan showing good touches and hold-up play it looked in the early stages that The Bulls might sneak a goal with one probing ball from Stevie G just failing to reach Hooper who was well position in the box. For MK, Stirling warmed the hands of Brown when he cut in from the right but his stinging effort was well collected before Jemal Johnson drew another fine save from Brown, this time from the left.
The Bulls did have their chances also with Hooper going extremely close with a header from a Simon Johnson corner. Hooper also had a goal-bound shot deflected wide before finding the net only to be ruled offside. As the half progressed, there was tidy football from both sides as the respective midfields looked to find openings.
Paul Ince clearly had a few words at half time because the second period produced a more direct approach from The Dons...not long ball, but running at the Bulls defence with pace. There were some nervous fans amongst the padded seats on the North East corner as wave after wave of Dons attacks broke down on the edge of the Bulls penalty box. Fullbacks McClenahanahan and Rose had their hands full but both acquitted themselves well defensively while Beckwith and Broadhurst, in general, coped with the central strikers. However, John Miles (wasn't he once a guitarist?) will be kicking himself as he thumped the ball high over the bar when it was easier to hit the target.
Turner introduced the pace of Robinson for Hooper with thirty minutes to go and for five or ten minutes the Watford loanee looked dangerous as he hassled the MK defence. Unfortunately, his positional movement did not match his physical efforts and he rarely looked like ending his goal drought. At the other end, as The Dons continued to press, Miles had a decent long-range effort tipped over by Brown and then substitute Gallen was foiled by a superb last-ditch block by Beckwith. Easton had a curling free kick comfortably saved by Gueret before Turner decided to batten down the hatches by replacing Guinan with an extra midfielder in the shape of Kris Taylor. Chances could still have been created for Robinson but the timing of his runs seemed poor and too often opportunities to break away were missed.
As the game drew to a close, the extra man in midfield enabled Hereford to fairly comfortably weather the final Dons thrusts and return to The Shire with a share of the spoils from a game in which, apart from the first thirty minutes, we looked to defend. The plan worked and now MK have to collect their reward at Stockport. Job done.
Milton Keynes Dons: Gueret, Lewington, O'Hanlon, Swailes, Stirling, Dyer, Andrews, Navarro, Johnson (Wright 59), Wilbraham, Miles (Gallen 87). Subs not used: Abbey, Hadfield, Regan
Hereford United: Brown, Rose, Beckwith, Broadhurst, McClenahan, Easton, Diagouraga, Smith, Johnson, Hooper (Robinson 59), Guinan (Taylor 79).
Subs not used: Esson, Gwynne, Collins
Attendance: 11428 (1230)
Text at top (next game etc)
Next Game: Rushall At Home In The League On Saturday 30th November At 3.00pm