Swindon Town’s winless run on the road has now extended to seven games after they were defeated 3-2 by Milton Keynes Dons.

Max Dean’s strike gave MK the lead at half-time before Jake Young restored some hope of ending the barren spell on the road as he came off the bench to score shortly after the break.

But Warren O’Hora slotted home for the hosts not long after and McEachran inadvertently diverted into his own net to seal it, before Frazer Blake-Tracy scored in stoppage time.

After winning on their first two visits to Stadium MK, Swindon have now won just once in their last nine visits, but despite winning one of their last six matches, Town are just three points off the play-off places.

Michael Flynn opted to make three changes to the side that lost 1-0 against Gillingham in midweek as Tom Clayton, Liam Kinsella, and Rushian Hepburn-Murphy came in to replace Minturn, Dan Kemp, and Jake Young. Sonny Hart and George Alston also stepped up from the under-18s to make the substitutes bench.

Flynn also began with a different formation for the first time this season, as Town switched to a back four with a midfield diamond.

Wiltshire Times: Hepburn-Murphy closes down HarvieHepburn-Murphy closes down Harvie (Image: Callum Knowles)

Swindon settled quickly in the game, with their tactical switch helping them to find space and draw the hosts onto them. This helped Hepburn-Murphy to have plenty of space to run into and pose plenty of early problems.

Udoka Godwin-Malife was caught trying to dribble out of defence and was robbed of possession. Alex Gilbey looked to try and charge into the space he had vacated, but Murphy Mahoney was there to gather his low cross.

Wiltshire Times: Liam Kinsella made his second league start for SwindonLiam Kinsella made his second league start for Swindon (Image: Callum Knowles)

After half an hour, MK Dons had their first big chances as Max Dean was clipped in behind the Swindon defence. He ran behind Clayton and tried to fire an effort towards the near post, but Mahoney was in position to make the save.

Mahoney was again called into action to deny Dean as he received the ball 20 yards from goal and was allowed to turn. The striker tried to pick out the bottom corner with a curling effort, but the goalkeeper made the stop.

Good work from Tyrese Shade on the left ended with a ball to the far side of the penalty area. Remeao Hutton touched it down for George McEachran, who sent his shot from the top of the box over the crossbar.

The hosts took the lead seven minutes before the break as Dean was again afforded space in the inside right channel and this time he made Swindon pay as he drilled the ball across Mahoney and into the bottom corner.

Wiltshire Times: Hutton running down the wingHutton running down the wing (Image: Callum Knowles)

After looking to take the initiative early in the second half, after 50 minutes Swindon were almost caught out as Gilbey nicked the ball in midfield and drove into the penalty area, only to be denied by Mahoney at full stretch.

Early in the second half, Flynn decided to bring on Young in place of Clayton and the decision paid dividends very quickly. Tyrese Shade, McEachran, and Charlie Austin worked the ball down the left and then pulled it to the top of the box. Young steadied himself and whipped a shot into the far corner. After a month without a goal, the on-loan striker finally brought up ten for the season.

Four minutes later Hutton’s cross was nodded down by Austin on the edge of the box and as Hepburn-Murphy chased after the loose ball, Cameron Norman was forced to clear sharpishly. Swindon were firmly in the ascendancy.

Wiltshire Times: Khan appeals for a foulKhan appeals for a foul (Image: Callum Knowles)

However, the hosts retook the lead against the run of play as Warren O’Hora was allowed space to drive forward and cut onto his left foot, before curling into the bottom corner.

Hutton caused problems down the right after 71 minutes as he got away from Joe Tomlinson. He hung a cross up to the far post where Hepburn-Murphy rose highest, but his header was easy enough for Craig MacGillivray to save.

Wiltshire Times: Shade closes down a defenderShade closes down a defender (Image: Callum Knowles)

MK Dons nearly put themselves out of sight as Jack Payne drove into space down the right and clipped the ball into the path of Gilbey, but Mahoney flung himself in front of him to keep the deficit at one.

Hutton again looked the most likely avenue for an equaliser as he whipped a cross just over the head of Austin, and it bounced off the top of Hepburn-Murphy’s head behind him and just wide of the post.

The game was wrapped up six minutes from time as Gilbey again found space in to charge down the side of the box and his pullback went in off McEachran.

Wiltshire Times: Kinsella and Austin question a decisionKinsella and Austin question a decision (Image: Callum Knowles)

Blake-Tracy headed home his second goal of the season in stoppage time as Swindon tried in vain to salvage something at Stadium MK.

MKD starting XI: MacGillivray, Norman, Tucker, O’Hora, Gilbey, Payne, Tomlinson, Grant, Dobson, Dean, Harvie.

MKD substitutes: Kelly, Williams, Leko, Eisa, Smith, Ilunga, Devoy.

STFC starting XI: Mahoney, Hutton, Clayton, Blake-Tracy, McEachran, Khan, Hepburn-Murphy, Godwin-Malife, Kinsella, Austin.

STFC substitutes: L. Ward, Young, Genesini, Minturn, Hart, Obodo, Alston.

Attendance: 7,821