Robbo relishes rival showdowns

MK Dons boss Karl Robinson has predicted many more meetings with rivals AFC Wimbledon after beating them 3-1 in the Capital One Cup.

The old Wimbledon FC were renamed MK Dons in 2004, a year after re-locating 56 miles to Milton Keynes, and this clash was just second time the two had met since. The first was in the second round of the FA Cup in December 2012, with MK Dons scoring an injury-time winner to progress 2-1, but it was much easier for the hosts on this occasion as Kyle McFadzean, Daniel Powell and Benik Afobe all scored for the League One outfit. "The world wanted to see this match and it's going to be a very competitive fixture from here on in," said Robinson. "The players can take tremendous credit from this. "It was a satisfactory night because it was always going to be a difficult fixture. "You've got to give credit to Neal Ardley and AFC Wimbledon, they came here on the front foot and arguably had the better of the chances in the first half. "But we looked clinical and our second-half performance was very composed and we were very precise in how we moved the ball. The two finishes in the second half were very assured. "The players enjoyed it, the atmosphere was very good. You tend to find in the first round of this competition, the numbers in the stands are diluted, but that wasn't the case. It was a very vocal support from both sides." Some of the AFC Wimbledon fans spilled onto the pitch after Matt Tubbs had scored a late penalty, and boss Ardley condemned the actions of a minority. "It's disappointing to see those scenes at the end," he said. "Obviously they want to celebrate a goal, but it was a disappointing end to the game. "Thankfully it's just a minority, it is what it is and it's not the kind of club we are. It's not what we are about. It's just emotions rolling over." On 19 minutes McFadzean flicked in Danny Green's corner before Powell doubled MK Dons' advantage on 49 minutes and Arsenal loanee Afobe made the game safe with 14 minutes remaining. Ardley added: "I think they were the better team. They've got a brave, open philosophy and against that you have to set your team up to try and make sure you don't get opened up. They were better than us. "Does it hurt? Of course it does. We're a club with a small budget and spend everything we've got, and a cup run is always nice. "But we're not defined by whether we are ready to beat MK Dons. We're defined by what has happened over the last 12 years and the remarkable work this club has done."