Oxford United 2-2 MK Dons was the final result.
The Dons started their 2026/27 season with a draw away from home against recently relegated Oxford United at the Kassam Stadium.
The opening stages were quite cagey with neither side being able to apply any real sustained pressure.
Brodie Spencer saw the first sight of goal when he rushed forward before firing an effort that deflected into the path of Craig MacGillivray, who collected comfortably.
Oxford struck first through Mark Harris after 19 minutes of play when Spencer’s shot from range was blocked by Marvin Ekpiteta. However, a loose touch from Cohen Bramall fell to the striker who lashed home from close range to give the U’s a 1-0 lead.
After the goal, the Dons began to dictate play in the midfield and started to create chances in the final third and looked extremely promising going forward.
The pressure soon paid off for the Dons who grabbed an equaliser through centre-back Charlie Goode who got the final touch after a goalmouth scramble following a corner.
Four minutes later, Aaron Collins put the Dons ahead with a powerful header from inside the six-yard area that gave the backpedalling Oxford keeper very little chance after a looping cross from Ryan Wintle who dispossessed Siriki Dembélé down the right-hand side.
Bramall sprinted down the left-hand side before drawing a foul on the edge of the area. Bramall took the free-kick but saw his low effort well saved by Jamie Cumming.
The Dons continued to threaten as the half came to a close.
HALF-TIME: Oxford United 1-2 MK Dons
Marvin Ekpiteta was the first player to be shown a yellow card after a tactical foul in the middle of the park that halted an Oxford attack.
Collins almost added a second when his headed effort from the centre of the box went just wide leaving the Oxford goalkeeper stranded after a drilled cross into the box from Sam Nombe.
Oxford started to come out of their shell midway through the second-half and had a penalty shout waved away by the referee after Tyler Goodrham clashed with MacGillivray in the penalty area.
Oxford captain Cameron Brannagan was shown a yellow as a result of his protests.
Collins went close again when Ben Wiles’ cross into the area deflected off Sam Nombe but the striker's headed effort crashed against the crossbar.
The Dons continued to attack and looked very promising in the wide areas. Goode narrowly missed the ball after a free-kick was arrowed into the area. Barlaser was next to go close after an effort from outside the area struck the side netting.
Late in the game, Oxford really started to test the Dons’ resilience and saw several efforts go close; Brannagan’s curled effort from 20 yards out went narrowly past the post.
The Dons had a chance to put the game to bed after a clearance fell to substitute Nathaniel Mendez-Laing who found himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper. The winger sprinted towards goal but opted to square the ball to Wintle who was unable to get on the end of the pass.
A late flurry of possession for the hosts paid dividends when Ciaron Brown tapped home after the Dons failed to clear a low ball into the penalty area.
Oxford carried on pressing for a winner but were unable to make use of corners.
The Dons had to settle for a point in the end after a positive performance away from home to kick off their campaign.
Huddersfield travel to Stadium MK next Saturday in another tough test for the Dons as League One football returns to MK1.
Team News:
Oxford United: Jamie Cumming, Sam Long, Ciaron Brown, Cameron Brannagan, Mark Harris, Aidomo Emakhu, Tyler Goodrham, Brodie Spencer, Jamie McDonnell, Siriki Dembélé, Jack Currie
MK Dons: Craig MacGillivray, Gethin Jones, Dan Barlaser, Charlie Goode, Sam Nombe, Aaron Collins, Cohen Bramall, Marvin Ekpiteta, Ryan Wintle, Ben Wiles, Curtis Nelson
Attendance: 10,964 (1493)
