Milton Keynes Dons picked up their second win of the 2024-25 season, defeating Walsall Town 1-0 at Stadium MK.
With just one win in their opening four matches, the Dons were desperate to pick up three points - which they did courtesy of Callum Hendry's second goal of the season in the first half.
It was a subdued opening for both sides, with neither threatening through the first five minutes and generally passing the ball around the pitch to keep possession.
The Dons' first foray into the opponents' box came from a Joe Tomlinson cross, with the ball flying in from the left flank to be scooped up comfortably by Sam Hornby.
The Dons brought the atmosphere back up with a goal in the 19th minute, courtesy of a close-range tap-in from Callum Hendry.
The goal came off the back of a beautiful passage of play. Alex Gilbey took a forward pass on a counter-attack, offloading it out wide to Nemane, who sent the ball into the box.
It missed Tommy Leigh inside the box but found Hendry near the back post, who comfortably slotted home and sent the home crowd into rapturous applause.
Dons goalkeeper Tom McGill came up huge minutes later to deny Walsall an equaliser, getting his body firmly in the way of a close-range shot - keeping the home side ahead.
The home side had shouts for a penalty just shy of the half-hour mark as Joe Tomlinson was knocked down at pace inside the box, but the referee waved play on.
Tomlinson tried to threaten from the left side once again, sending a low cross into the box. Hendry was the target, but it was cut out by a defender and turned away.
The Dons looked lively again in the 35th minute, with a cross-pitch pass finding Hendry rushing forward in the Walsall half. He laid the ball off to Nemane on the right wing, with the summer signing sending a deep cross into the box.
It was turned away from the goal at the last second, keeping the score 1-0.
Nemane had a great opportunity to extend the lead moments later, rushing onto a through ball from Hendry once again and sending a tame effort goalwards, only to see the ball curl away and go wide.
The Dons continued to cause havoc on the Walsall backline, getting away a number of passes to players in shooting range, with each offloading to the next until Tomlinson rocketed an effort from the edge of the box. It was deflected wide for a corner.
The half-time whistle blew with the Dons holding onto a slim 1-0 lead, albeit enjoying the majority of possession and chances.
The visitors started lively, pouncing on a poor pass to counter and earn themselves a corner early in the second.
The Dons, however, fought back and Laurence Maguire came close to scoring - seeing his header from a lofted deep ball go narrowly wide at the back post.
Walsall had a chance to level shy of the hour mark, but Jack Earing's effort from inside the box sailed comfortably over the bar. Aaron Nemane was forced off in the 60th minute after a challenge inside his own penalty box, being replaced by Stephen Wearne.
Substitute Wearne had a shot from range minutes after entering the fray, seeing a tame effort roll along the ground and into the arms of Hornby.
Reyes Cleary attempted a dramatic overhead kick from a deep cross into the Dons' penalty area, connecting with the ball but seeing his effort sail wide.
Walsall almost caught Dons keeper McGill off-guard with a thunderous cross into the box going close enough towards goal to force him into palming the ball away.
Wearne was on hand to hit the ball out for a corner to avoid any follow-up action from lurking Walsall attackers.
The Dons forced Hornby into making a save after Gilbey laid a neat pass off to Tomlinson unchallenged inside the Walsall box. The keeper held firm and double-palmed the ball away.
Gilbey was involved again as a Dons counter-attack sees him get a shot away, but it's hit low and saved by Hornby on the ground.
An astonishing eight minutes of time was added on, with the Dons nervously trying to hold onto their slim lead.
Fortunately, the Dons were able to hold off their opponents and claim their second victory of the season. The result drags them up to 14th in the League Two standings, with a trip to Plough Lane to take on bitter rivals AFC Wimbledon now the challenge ahead.
MK Dons Lineup: McGill, Tripp, Offord, Maguire (65' Tucker), Tomlinson, Kelly (82' MJ Williams), Lemonheigh-Evans, Leigh (65' Thompson-Sommers), Gilbey, Nemane (60' Wearne), Hendry (82' Dennis)
