Walsall Fc 0-2 MK Dons — Mellish and Hepburn-Murphy seal win as pressure mounts on Mat Sadler
MK Dons moved up to third in the League Two table after a 2-0 win at Walsall, with Rushian Hepburn-Murphy opening the scoring and Jon Mellish adding a close-range finish. The result leaves Walsall Fc ninth and winless in their last seven league games, intensifying scrutiny of manager Mat Sadler.
Jon Mellish and Rushian Hepburn-Murphy: how the goals came
Rushian Hepburn-Murphy capitalised on a defensive mistake to score the opener, and Jon Mellish later finished from close range to confirm the victory. The pair combined to give Paul Warne's side a clean sheet and a 2-0 margin that elevated MK Dons to third in the table.
Daniel Kanu and Craig MacGillivray: Walsall chances denied
Walsall produced an improved second-half display and threatened an equaliser, but Daniel Kanu was twice denied by visiting goalkeeper Craig MacGillivray. Those saves maintained MK Dons' lead and frustrated the hosts' attempts to mount a comeback at home.
Walsall Fc form and Mat Sadler pressure
The Saddlers sit ninth after the defeat and were top of League Two on Boxing Day, but they are now without a league win in seven matches. Supporters have voiced sharp criticism of the team's play, describing watching Walsall as "awful" and calling the style "tactically inept, " with some saying Mat Sadler's single approach is no longer sufficient. Since topping the table on Boxing Day, Walsall have played 10 league games; only three of the teams faced in that stretch are currently in the top 10.
MK Dons injury crisis: Callum Paterson and Aaron Collins ruled out
Despite the victory, MK Dons travel into upcoming fixtures dealing with significant absences. Callum Paterson will miss the next two months with an ankle injury, while Aaron Collins is likely to be sidelined for three weeks with his own ankle problem and could require surgery. Paterson, 31, has been a pivotal attacker this season, registering 14 goals and eight assists, including six goals in four appearances during January. Only Swindon Town striker Aaron Drinan has scored more goals than Paterson in League Two this term. Collins scored the only goal in his last appearance, a 1-0 home win over Newport County on February 14, before his injury setback.
Formation and personnel: Hepburn-Murphy to lead MK Dons
With Paterson and Collins unavailable, Rushian Hepburn-Murphy — recently back from a hamstring issue — is set to continue leading the line in MK Dons' 3-5-1-1 formation. The tactical switch and personnel changes have allowed the Dons to maintain attacking output despite the injury hits.
Upcoming fixtures: Shrewsbury and Cambridge kick off at 12: 30 GMT
Attention now turns quickly to the next round of League Two action. Walsall make the trip to face an in-form Shrewsbury side that have won their past four games, while MK Dons travel to second-placed Cambridge. Both matches kick off at 12: 30 GMT on Saturday.
MK Dons' win and subsequent rise to third suggests they are well placed to make the step up to the third tier, but their injury list complicates that trajectory. What makes this notable is that the Dons secured a meaningful league position even as two of their main attackers face multi-week absences; conversely, Walsall's slide from Boxing Day leaders to a seven-game winless run has hardened questions about their tactical approach and the future of Mat Sadler. There is still time left in the season for both clubs to change their fortunes, but the immediate effects are clear: MK Dons gain momentum and table position, while Walsall's promotion hopes dim and pressure on their manager increases.
