Full-time: Bristol Rovers 1, MK Dons 2

Byron Anthony's second own-goal of the season consigned Bristol Rovers to defeat against an MK Dons side who played much of the game with only 10 men.

The Pirates managed to summon up an instant response when they fell behind to Aaron Wilbraham's first-half header, Jo Kuffour equalising within a minute.

But after Dons' defender Miguel Angel Llera was sent off for a second caution in the 37th minute, Rovers were unable to translate their numerical superiority into further goals in front of their biggest home crowd of the season so far – 9,002.

The visitors, boasting the best away record in League One, got a lucky break for their winner early in the second half.

Left-winger Jemal Johnson took on David Pipe and found enough space to deliver a cross which struck Anthony at the near post and flashed into the net.

Rovers had made one change to the side that had started the 3-1 defeat at Stockport, central defender Anthony returning to the starting line-up in place of Craig Hinton, who had become a dad for the first time just before Christmas.

But they paid the price for more weak defending when Wilbraham rose inside the six-yard box to head in Peter Leven's corner in the 14th minute.

Moments later, Kuffour netted his fifth goal of the campaign, seizing on a loose ball to send a high lob looping over keeper Willy Gueret from 20 yards.

The Dons saw Llera receive his second yellow when he fouled the lively Kuffour, but Bristol Rovers lacked the guile to fight back after going behind despite laying siege to the visitors' goal over the final minutes.

They suffered another blow when they saw full-back Pipe stretchered off late in the game.