Match ends, MK Dons 4, Sutton United 4.
Sutton United were relegated from League Two as they drew 4-4 with MK Dons on the final day of the season.
The U's needed to beat Dons and hope Colchester lost to Crewe to have any chance of avoiding relegation and were seemingly heading down with a whimper as they trailed 2-0 at half-time through goals from Jack Payne and Alex Gilbey.
The U's rallied in the second half as Stephen Duke-McKenna pulled one back before Emre Tezgel restored the Dons' two-goal advantage.
Charlie Lakin fired into the top corner to get Sutton back into the game, and Duke-McKenna netted his second shortly after Ellis Harrison scored the hosts' fourth.
Harry Smith grabbed an added time equaliser for Sutton but it was never going to be enough to save the London club, as they return to the National League after three seasons in the English Football League.
MK Dons will face Crawley in the play-off semi-finals having gone into the game already being assured of a fourth-place finish.
Sutton's Football League adventure ends in Milton Keynes
The U's were promoted to the EFL for the first time in their history in 2020-21 under Matt Gray.
He led the club to eighth in their first season in League Two, one point off the play-off places, and to the EFL Trophy final, where they lost 4-2 to Rotherham after extra time at Wembley.
They then finished 14th last season but struggled this term, with Gray sacked in December 2023 after an 8-0 thrashing at Stockport left the south London club bottom of the table.
Steve Morison was hired as his replacement in January and revived the club's season, winning four games in a row in March and April to lift the club out of the relegation zone for the first time since August.
However, three draws from their final four games was not enough to save Sutton and the U's will join already relegated Forest Green Rovers in the National League next season.
MK Dons boss Mike Williamson speaking to BBC Three Counties Radio:
"It was one of those games where you don't really know what to expect, it was a long shot for them [to stay up] relying on other results but we knew they were going to come with that professionalism and belief [that they could do it].
"We're going into a very tough semi-final against Crawley, who play good football, and it's going to be an exciting challenge."
Sutton boss Steve Morison told BBC Radio London:
"I couldn't be prouder of all of the players, we've left some points out there since I've come in which is disappointing as I've always felt like we could do it [stay up].
"We can use today's performance as ammo for next season. I'm not going anywhere, why would I?
"I love coming to work, love this group of players and the people who work here.
"It's a really disappointing day for the club but what I think we've shown is there are some really good players in that dressing room and we've got a good chance of doing something special next year."
Line-ups
MK Dons
Formation 3-4-2-1
- 32Kelly
- 4Tucker
- 5O'HoraBooked at 67mins
- 21Harvie
- 29LofthouseSubstituted forKempat 74'minutes
- 11Payne
- 50Bate
- 14TomlinsonSubstituted forNormanat 62'minutes
- 24WearneSubstituted forTezgelat 56'minutes
- 8GilbeySubstituted forRobsonat 62'minutes
- 18DeanSubstituted forHarrisonat 56'minutesBooked at 90mins
Substitutes
- 2Norman
- 3Lewington
- 9Harrison
- 17Robson
- 22Tezgel
- 27Kemp
- 33Marschall
Sutton United
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 25Arnold
- 23JacksonSubstituted forMooreat 74'minutes
- 4Sowunmi
- 22Kizzi
- 42HartBooked at 67mins
- 10BeautymanSubstituted forFadahunsiat 74'minutes
- 31Lakin
- 7ColeySubstituted forDuke-McKennaat 31'minutes
- 38SandersonSubstituted forEastmondat 45'minutesBooked at 65mins
- 3Adom-Malaki
- 9Smith
Substitutes
- 6John
- 15Eastmond
- 16Clay
- 19Fadahunsi
- 27Moore
- 30Kerbey
- 50Duke-McKenna
- Referee:
- Thomas Parsons
- Attendance:
- 8,685
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home63%
- Away37%
- Shots
- Home18
- Away17
- Shots on Target
- Home8
- Away12
- Corners
- Home3
- Away9
- Fouls
- Home10
- Away13
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, MK Dons 4, Sutton United 4.
Post update
Attempt saved. Harry Smith (Sutton United) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Charlie Lakin with a cross.
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Foul by Daniel Kemp (MK Dons).
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Deon Moore (Sutton United) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Foul by Emre Tezgel (MK Dons).
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Joe Kizzi (Sutton United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Booking
Ellis Harrison (MK Dons) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
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Delay in match (MK Dons).
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Ellis Harrison (MK Dons) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Omar Sowunmi (Sutton United).
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Attempt missed. Emre Tezgel (MK Dons) right footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Lewis Bate.
Goal!
Goal! MK Dons 4, Sutton United 4. Harry Smith (Sutton United) header from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Stephen Duke-McKenna with a cross.
Post update
Corner, Sutton United. Conceded by Michael Kelly.
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Attempt blocked. Emre Tezgel (MK Dons) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Daniel Kemp.
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Daniel Harvie (MK Dons) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Joe Kizzi (Sutton United).
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Corner, Sutton United. Conceded by Daniel Harvie.
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Attempt blocked. Deon Moore (Sutton United) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Stephen Duke-McKenna with a cross.
Comments
Join the conversation
Good Luck Next season from a Swindon Town Fan !
Bringing in Morison probably happened a month too late, in hindsight. But U's really gave it a go. It is a real community club, and doesn't deserve the vitriol posted here for daring to get promoted. 💛🤎
Special mention to the Sutton fans, you were loud and very clearly out to enjoy your final game, huge respect to you. Pity you got relegated.
Whatever happens, thank you Steve, for giving Sutton hope over the last 3 months.
And good luck, MK, in the play-offs - you played some lovely football yesterday, with a real threat in attack.
💛🤎💛
No complaints about the end result of the season, we weren’t good enough over the course of 46 games. But it was totally avoidable but sentiment got in the way. Which is the thing that frustrates and angers me.