MK Dons 3-0 Newport: Dons show off promotion credentials![Copy icon](/ls-web-assets/svgs/common/link-38b6c0e79d99f1789ecdee667813501e.svg)
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MK Dons brushed aside fellow promotion hopefuls Newport 3-0 at Stadium MK.
First-half goals from Dan Kemp, Jack Payne and Alex Gilbey handed the home side a comprehensive victory.
Victory saw the Dons close to within three points of the automatic promotion places, while Newport lost ground on the play-offs after suffering a second defeat in 10 matches.
MK Dons made a bright start and took the lead after 12 minutes as a passing move took them into the area and Kemp steered a low shot past Nick Townsend.
The hosts doubled their advantage 10 minutes later. A free-kick routine caught Newport out as Payne exchanged passes with Kemp, charged into the box and scored.
Gilbey grabbed a third just before the half-hour, receiving Stephen Wearne’s cut-back and rolling a shot home.
Newport goalkeeper Townsend made further stops to deny the Dons an even more commanding lead as his team-mates struggled to mount any sort of response, while Kemp and Ellis Harrison each had strikes disallowed.