Milton Keynes Dons are now unbeaten in six League Two matches after picking up a 2-0 victory over Forest Green Rovers at Stadium MK.
The Dons had an opportunity to open the scoring early on, earning a free kick 25 yards out from the Rovers' goal. Jack Payne hit the dead ball goalwards, but it went just over the bar.
The visitors began to build pressure on Mike Williamson's side, pressing forward while trying to get shots on goal. Efforts from Morton and McAlister were cut out, however.
Conor Grant then tried his luck from just outside the Forest Green area, cutting inside and taking a swipe with his right foot. The ball rolled wide of the post.
Dons took the lead in the 22nd minute, courtesy of Max Dean's sixth league goal of the season. Joe Tomlinson picked up the ball on the right flank, sending in a cross towards Dean in the middle. Dean tapped the ball out of reach of a defender, striking into the bottom corner and sent the home side 1-0 up.
Grant missed a phenomenal chance to extend the Dons' lead after half an hour, receive a perfectly placed pass in the centre of the box, only to see his shot sail wide of the mark.
The Dons did extend their lead five minutes later, through a strong outside the box effort from Jack Payne. Some strong, quick passing in and around the box from the Dons saw the ball fly out to Payne, who struck low and hard, beating Daniels and giving the home side a two-goal cushion.
The Dons tried to get a bright start to the second half and earned a free kick inside the visitors' half a few minutes in. It was poorly taken, however, and Alex Gilbey was adjudged to be offside after almost salvaging it with a shot towards goal.
Forest Green had a free kick of their own just shy of the hour mark, but despite getting multiple attempts away, they were all blocked and eventually cleared by the Dons defence, keeping the score a 2-0.
A bit more end-to-end play continued through the second half, with Rovers also getting a close-range effort away, seeing it go wide of the mark.
Trying to avoid letting the visitors back into the game, the Dons built a period of their own pressure, continuing to hammer the ball into the box and force the issue at times, with Gilbey, Tomlinson and Dean all involved in close efforts and winning corners.
After settling down play, Rovers began to built some of their own momentum, putting pressure on the Dons' backline, who were forced to make a number of clearances to maintain their two-goal buffer.
Dean had a hopeful effort from long range as time began to dwindle down, but it was just shy of the mark and went over the bar.
The Dons held firm against their opposition, showing determination to extend their lead, but will be happy to come away from the match with all three points, a clean sheet and two goals, while sitting just two points outside the playoffs.
MK Dons Lineup: MacGillivray, Tomlinson, Norman, O'Hora, Lewington, Harvie, Payne, Gilbey, Robson (77' Dennis), Grant (77' Devoy), Dean
