NEWPORT County AFC suffered a second defeat to MK Dons in 11 days as Joe Day’s first-half penalty save was not enough to earn a point at Stadium MK.

Day denied Kieran Agard from the spot midway through the first period and made a string of important saves.

But he was beaten by an Ousseynou Cisse header 12 minutes after the break and substitute Chuks Aneke sealed the win at the death.

Michael Flynn was forced into two changes from the midweek win at Notts County with Joss Labadie injured and Fraser Franks missing due to illness.

Tyreeq Bakinson and Matty Dolan were recalled in their place as the Exiles looked to avenge their 1-0 home defeat to the Dons on February 12.

Flynn’s men were the better side in that game at Rodney Parade, hitting the woodwork four times.

But the boot was on the other foot in this game as the Dons dominated on home turf.

Agard and Jake Hesketh both went close in the opening stages and Dan Butler was fortunate not to be penalised for a high challenge on Conor McGrandles in the area.

But referee Sebastian Stockbridge appeared keen to make up for that six minutes later when the same two players came together in the box and McGrandles threw himself to the floor.

This time he did point to the spot and County were thankful to Day for a fine save as he dived to his left to keep out Agard’s penalty.

The hosts continued to create chances with former Exiles loan star Alex Gilbey curling wide from the edge of the area and Day getting down well to keep out David Wheeler’s glancing header.

The visitors looked very flat and they didn’t muster an effort on goal until two minutes into the second half when Padraig Amond’s shot was easily saved by Stuart Moore.

Jamille Matt headed wide a minute later and Bakinson sliced a shot high and wide as Flynn’s men at last looked a threat going forward.

They were still vulnerable at the other end, however, and Scot Bennett had to clear the danger when Butler was robbed in the box.

Day then produced another fine save to deny Agard once again.

But he could do nothing to prevent the hosts taking a deserved lead from the resulting corner as McGrandles’ cross was headed in off the post by Cisse in the 57th minute.

Hesketh should have doubled the lead before Flynn threw on Ben Kennedy and Ade Azeez for Bakinson and Amond.

Both substitutes went close to levelling as Kennedy’s header was saved by Moore before Bennett blazed over from the rebound.

And Azeez, who was making his debut following his deadline day move from Cambridge United, placed a glancing header just the wrong side of the post.

Harry McKirdy was also introduced as the Exiles went for broke in the closing stages, but Day again had to be alert to keep out a header from Aneke.

Matt saw a header plucked out of the air by Moore three minutes from time as County continued to battle.

But a mistake by Demetriou was pounced on by Aneke in the 90th minute and the Dons sub buried his shot to seal another three points for Paul Tisdale’s men.

County: Day; Poole, O’Brien, Demetriou, Butler; Bennett; Willmott, Bakinson (Kennedy, 63), Dolan (McKirdy, 76); Amond (Azeez, 63), Matt

Subs not used: Townsend, Pipe, Sheehan, Marsh-Brown

Referee: Sebastian Stockbridge

Attendance: 6,984 (340 County)

Argus star man: Day