Match ends, Mansfield Town 1, MK Dons 1.
Mansfield and second-placed MK Dons had to settle for a share of the spoils at Field Mill.
In a showdown between League Two's two meanest defences, Jacob Mellis put the hosts ahead before Jordan Houghton equalised.
After Tyler Walker had twice gone close, Mansfield broke the deadlock.
A poor Mal Benning free-kick was cleared to Mellis 25 yards from goal and he smashed a powerful half-volley into the net.
Chuks Aneke then failed to punish keeper Bobby Olejnik for failing to hold the ball as he shot straight back at him.
But the visitors were level moments later as Houghton marked his 100th league game with a rising 25-yard piledriver out of nowhere that soared into the top corner.
Olejnik also had to parry a Rhys Healey shot from 20 yards and saw Aneke rob Mellis and turn to fire a low finish against a post in a frantic first period.
The Stags keeper made more fine saves after the break to keep out shots from Healey and Kieran Agard while substitute Callum Brittain fired a good chance over.
Report supplied by Press Association.
Line-ups
Mansfield
Formation 3-5-2
- 12Olejnik
- 4Preston
- 5Pearce
- 17SweeneyBooked at 13mins
- 22HamiltonSubstituted forAtkinsonat 90+1'minutes
- 8Mellis
- 6Bishop
- 10KhanSubstituted forButcherat 45'minutes
- 3BenningBooked at 52mins
- 32Rose
- 19WalkerSubstituted forDaviesat 82'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Logan
- 9Davies
- 11Atkinson
- 16Butcher
- 20Elsnik
- 27Gibbens
- 29Graham
MK Dons
Formation 3-4-3
- 1Nicholls
- 4Walsh
- 15Moore-TaylorSubstituted forBrittainat 47'minutesBooked at 81mins
- 26Cargill
- 2Williams
- 24Houghton
- 8Gilbey
- 3Lewington
- 14Agard
- 10AnekeBooked at 83minsSubstituted forWatsonat 84'minutesBooked at 90mins
- 32Healey
Substitutes
- 7Watson
- 12Hancox
- 19Simpson
- 20D'Ath
- 22Moore
- 25Brittain
- 37Asonganyi
- Referee:
- Seb Stockbridge
- Attendance:
- 4,329
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home55%
- Away45%
- Shots
- Home21
- Away14
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away8
- Corners
- Home6
- Away3
- Fouls
- Home14
- Away14
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Mansfield Town 1, MK Dons 1.
Post update
Corner, Mansfield Town. Conceded by George Williams.
Post update
Danny Rose (Mansfield Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Jordan Houghton (MK Dons).
Post update
Corner, Mansfield Town. Conceded by George Williams.
Substitution
Substitution, Mansfield Town. Will Atkinson replaces CJ Hamilton.
Booking
Ryan Watson (MK Dons) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Foul by Calum Butcher (Mansfield Town).
Post update
Ryan Watson (MK Dons) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Booking
Chuks Aneke (MK Dons) is shown the yellow card.
Substitution
Substitution, MK Dons. Ryan Watson replaces Chuks Aneke.
Post update
Neal Bishop (Mansfield Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Chuks Aneke (MK Dons).
Post update
Attempt missed. Krystian Pearce (Mansfield Town) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left.
Substitution
Substitution, Mansfield Town. Craig Davies replaces Tyler Walker.
Booking
Callum Brittain (MK Dons) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Malvind Benning (Mansfield Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Callum Brittain (MK Dons).
Post update
Attempt blocked. Kieran Agard (MK Dons) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked.