McLeods continued service the Milton Key for Dons

Last updated : 02 June 2007 By Gary Moss

Final Position: 4th

Top Goalscorer: Izale McLeod (24)

Player of the Season: Izale McLeod

McLeod... Golden boot winner

The League Two PFA Player of the year collected the Golden Boot award alongside Hartlepools Richie Barker as they both ended on 21, and has had a fantastic season.

He is all about goals, goals and more goals. He has proved he can score at all levels netting in each of the last three seasons from the Championship down.

With the Dons narrowly missing out on promotion this year, it is likely that other clubs will be taking a look at Martin Allen's prized asset.

His goals throughout this season have really kept the Dons ticking but in the end they weren't enough.

He has pace, power and a superb eye for goal. He has been the teams stand out player by some margin.

Against Notts: Notts were left empty handed on their first ever trip to the National Hockey Stadium despite a spirited comeback in the early stages of the League Two campaign.

The Dons took a slender 1-0 lead into the interval as Lloyd Dyer drilled home a free kick on the stroke of half-time. Notts went in both a goal and a man down as Matt Somner had seen red for a rash challenge on Dean Lewington.

After the break things got much worse for Notts as they were reduced to nine men with the dismissal of Alan White for a second booking.

Dyer made it 2-0 and substitute Scott Taylor grabbed a third as the pressure piled on.

Late strikes from Jason Lee and Dan Martin made for a tense finish but it was an end to the black and whites unbeaten start to the season.

At Meadow Lane in February, Notts recovered from two down to rescue a point.

Dyer... bagged in both fixtures against Notts
Lloyd Dyer and Dean Lewington netted in quick succession to fire the Dons in command but a penalty converted by Jay Smith just before the break handed County a lifeline.

The second half ploughed on and still the Magpies couldn't find a leveller as Ian Ross saw his thunderbolt come back off the post. But Notts huffed and puffed until man of the match Stephen Hunt headed home in stoppage time to earn a share of the spoils against the promotion chasers.

It was a result on the back of three league losses that eased the pressure on then under fire Notts boss Steve Thompson.

Defining Moment: Failure to secure an automatic promotion spot at the expense of Swindon Town always spelled a recipe for disaster.

With the Robins managing a 1-1 draw with champions Walsall on the final day of the campaign, The Dons 3-1 victory over Accrington Stanley still meant they missed out on the top three by a single point.

A run of four games without a win at the end of March and start of April blew their chances of an automatic spot and the playoffs proved to be an unlucky lottery.

Losses to Shrewsbury and Grimsby as well as just a 0-0 draw at Hereford gave Sturrock's side the upper hand in the race for third place.

This is when they lost promotion not in the playoffs but because the job could and maybe should have done before this.

Highlight: Fans may find it difficult to find any positives from such a disappointing season in the end but the Dons played a lot of attractive football and were always one of the divisions stronger teams.

They scored more goals than any other side in the league hitting 76 over the course of the season. It may only be a small consolation and more an indicator of their dubious defending but the Dons will be remembered as this seasons entertainers.

They went on a series of good runs over the season, losing just one of their first eight for example, but at least they gave their fans something to cheer about as they racked up the goals in an highly entertaining fashion.

Lowlight: With relegation comes the expectancy of an immediate bounce back but the MK Dons were the unlucky of the four sides.

A semi-final playoff exit at the hands of 13 points inferior Shrewsbury Town ended the Dons hopes of promotion on a sad May evening.

Allen's men fought hammer and tong to claim a 0-0 draw at Gay Meadow only to be beaten on their own patch in the second leg.

Shrews super sub Andy Cooke scored twice to lead his side to a 2-1 win over the fourth placed outfit.

The dream was over as the old Wimbledon face another season of life in League Two.

The Mad Verdict: The MK Dons have been a breath of fresh air to League Two throughout this season with a collection of fine attacking players; they set out to score goals and always look to win games going forward.

Allen... new home dugout next season at Leicester

Players such as Izale McLeod, Clive Platt, Lloyd Dyer and Aaron Wilbraham have made Allen's men an attractive team to watch.

With so much emphasis on the attacking side of the game, the Dons have been suspect to leaking goals and this factor has been their downfall.

A 4-0 defeat at Peterborough United and 5-0 at Rochdale may be freak results but certainly not those of a side bidding for the top spots.

Fans may look back with regret at the departure of former boss Danny Wilson who moved onto Hartlepool and led them straight back to League One, whilst Milton Keynes appointed Martin Allen and face another year in the fourth flight of English football.

They must get rid of any negative feelings now and have another crack at the whip next time around.

What's Next? The MK Dons have shown they have the finances and they may wish to go out and spend on their defence ahead of the next year.

They will be one of the favourites for promotion but one suspects there will be an added pressure on the players and coaches this time around as they watch ahead at Walsall, Hartlepool and Swindon back into League One safe and sound.

Losing Allen to Leicester City is a blow considering his ability, they need a big man to replace him to help their cause.