Match ends, Rochdale 2, MK Dons 3.
Rochdale 2-3 Milton Keynes Dons
- From the section League One
MK Dons made sure the League One automatic promotion race will go down to the final day by beating Rochdale.
Samir Carruthers put Dons ahead with a neat finish before Dean Bowditch's curling strike doubled the lead.
Peter Vincenti converted Ian Henderson's cross after the break to reduce the arrears but Daniel Powell squeezed the ball home for the visitors to restore the two-goal cushion.
Henderson grabbed a consolation but defeat ended Rochdale's play-off hopes.
Third-placed MK Dons sit one point behind Preston in second and finish their campaign at home to bottom side Yeovil.
Preston travel to relegation-threatened Colchester for their final game.
MK Dons manager Karl Robinson told BBC Three Counties Radio:
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"We were sensational. We were great in a different way. Rochdale deserved to win, they were the better team.
"That wasn't the quality we expect of our team. I thought we switched off after the 10th minute. We've not needed lady luck recently but we needed it today.
"I think we've done all we can. We've played 45 very difficult games and there's not been a second we've not pushed ourselves to the limit and I think the players deserve tremendous credit."
On Swindon's team selection against Preston: "(Swindon manager) Mark Cooper will say he's had to do it for the right reasons and I have to respect that and his integrity.
"When you see the team before the game and you only see two or three that will play in the play-off games, it was difficult for us to take, but we still had a job to do."
Rochdale manager Keith Hill told BBC Radio Manchester:
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"That game summed our season up. We made too many individual mistakes.
"We were setting our plan out to not make mistakes - we have done twice for two goals and that really hurts me"
"Where we're at at this moment in time is healthy but we've got to try and plan the future.
"I'm really disappointed tonight stood here as a manager. The third goal was a gift. It's an absolute joke defensively."
Line-ups
Rochdale
- 19Jones
- 27CannonBooked at 61mins
- 6Lancashire
- 33Kennedy
- 17Tanser
- 3BennettBooked at 41mins
- 25RoseSubstituted forBunneyat 63'minutes
- 7Vincenti
- 28CampsSubstituted forAndrewat 54'minutes
- 24AllenSubstituted forNoble-Lazarusat 54'minutesBooked at 79mins
- 40Henderson
Substitutes
- 1Lillis
- 2Rafferty
- 5Eastham
- 9Andrew
- 11Noble-Lazarus
- 26Logan
- 39Bunney
MK Dons
- 1Martin
- 12SpenceBooked at 27mins
- 6Kay
- 5McFadzean
- 3Lewington
- 34Baker
- 14AlliBooked at 84mins
- 13Baker
- 22CarruthersSubstituted forHallat 72'minutes
- 9BowditchSubstituted forPowellat 72'minutes
- 11GriggBooked at 90mins
Substitutes
- 2Hodson
- 17Powell
- 19Hitchcock
- 28Cole
- 29Burns
- 38Hall
- Referee:
- Michael Bull
- Attendance:
- 3,501
Match Stats
Home TeamRochdaleAway TeamMK Dons
- Possession
- Home49%
- Away51%
- Shots
- Home12
- Away13
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away5
- Corners
- Home6
- Away3
- Fouls
- Home15
- Away12
Live Text
Full Time
Second Half ends, Rochdale 2, MK Dons 3.
Attempt saved. Ian Henderson (Rochdale) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Booking
William Grigg (MK Dons) is shown the yellow card.
Andrew Cannon (Rochdale) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Carl Baker (MK Dons).
Attempt missed. Andrew Cannon (Rochdale) right footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the right.
Corner, Rochdale. Conceded by Kyle McFadzean.
Foul by Calvin Andrew (Rochdale).
Dean Lewington (MK Dons) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Peter Vincenti (Rochdale) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Daniel Powell (MK Dons).
Andrew Cannon (Rochdale) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Carl Baker (MK Dons).
Attempt saved. Andrew Cannon (Rochdale) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Attempt saved. Carl Baker (MK Dons) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Goal!
Goal! Rochdale 2, MK Dons 3. Ian Henderson (Rochdale) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Reuben Noble-Lazarus.
Foul by Calvin Andrew (Rochdale).
Kyle McFadzean (MK Dons) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Booking
Dele Alli (MK Dons) is shown the yellow card.
Andrew Cannon (Rochdale) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Dele Alli (MK Dons).
Corner, MK Dons. Conceded by Andrew Cannon.
Ian Henderson (Rochdale) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Jordan Spence (MK Dons).
Attempt blocked. Dele Alli (MK Dons) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Booking
Reuben Noble-Lazarus (Rochdale) is shown the yellow card.
Foul by Reuben Noble-Lazarus (Rochdale).
Lewis Baker (MK Dons) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Goal!
Goal! Rochdale 1, MK Dons 3. Daniel Powell (MK Dons) right footed shot from the left side of the six yard box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Dele Alli.
Foul by Andrew Cannon (Rochdale).
Carl Baker (MK Dons) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Corner, Rochdale. Conceded by Dean Lewington.
Substitution
Substitution, MK Dons. Daniel Powell replaces Dean Bowditch.
Substitution
Substitution, MK Dons. Robert Hall replaces Samir Carruthers.
Attempt missed. Samir Carruthers (MK Dons) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.
Foul by Ian Henderson (Rochdale).
Dean Lewington (MK Dons) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Peter Vincenti (Rochdale) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Dean Bowditch (MK Dons).