Ben Reeves had not scored a goal for MK Dons since March
MK Dons won in the Championship for the first time since the middle of August as they beat 10-man Blackburn Rovers at Stadium MK.
Rovers' Adam Henley was sent off after bringing down Josh Murphy in the box when through on goal, with Ben Reeves converting the resulting penalty.
Simon Church doubled the lead with a close-range header from Murphy's cross.
Reeves sealed the win as he scored in the final minutes after some great inter-play between the Dons forwards.
The result sees Karl Robinson's side move three points clear of the relegation zone and end a run of seven league games without a win.
The home side took command after seeing Blackburn lose a man after nine minutes, when the impressive winger Murphy was brought down by Henley inside the box, and the right-back was sent off for denying a goal-scoring opportunity.
Robinson on MK Dons v Blackburn
Reeves sent Jason Steele the wrong way from the spot as the Dons took the lead in a game for the first time since they beat Bolton 1-0 on 18 August.
Jordan Rhodes had Blackburn's only decent chance with 30 minutes to go, but his volley was superbly saved by David Martin.
Church made the points safe as he headed in Murphy's excellent cross, before Reeves rounded off MK Dons' biggest-ever win in the second tier of English football after great passing move between Carl Baker, Nicky Maynard and Jake Forster-Caskey.
MK Dons manager Karl Robinson:
"I had a go at Churchy at half-time because of the chance he missed in the first half. But then he scored after that and he deserves it because he works so hard in training every week, and that's why I back him because I know there are goals in him somewhere.
"I thought the players were excellent and the way we started the game made it really difficult for Blackburn in the first 10 minutes.
"We were under no illusions today about how difficult this was going to be and I think my players conducted themselves really well from the first minute to the last."
Blackburn Rovers manager Gary Bowyer:
"I think in any game when you get a player sent off so early it will always affect the outcome of the game.
"What you ask for, though, is that the decision is correct - the referee sprinted to give the decision. Was the contact in the penalty box? Was it a foul in the first place? These are all questions that the referee has to be completely clear in his head.
"We have to bounce back now on Wednesday against Derby County and we have to regroup and look after everybody."
- Published20 June 2016
- Published7 June 2019
