Cobblers tumble out of Papa John's Trophy as Walker double wins it for Milton Keynes

Stephen Walker's well-taken goal on 27 minutes handed Dons a deserved lead at half-time and his second from the penalty spot late on sealed the visitors' place in the next round.

Town only made three changes from the goalless draw against Sunderland 10 days earlier but they were second best in all departments, particularly in the final third, and must now focus on their league campaign with a big game against Oxford United to come at the weekend.

Keith Curle promised changes in the build-up to this cup clash but he picked close to a first-choice XI with Joseph Mills, back from three months out, among those starting in a strong side.

Steve Arnold was due to start in goal but an injury in the warm-up meant Jonathan Mitchell took his place, with young academy goalkeeper Dylan Berry coming onto the bench.

Cobblers wasted a couple of promising moments in the opening five minutes and MK soon took a stranglehold on proceedings with the highly impressive Scott Fraser running rings around Town's defence.

His perfectly weighted through pass was tucked away by a marginally offside Joe Mason on 15 minutes before Fraser's dangerous cross had to be hacked clear inside the six-yard box.

The Dons midfielder also shot straight down the throat of Mitchell after some nifty footwork inside the box, and it was no surprise when Fraser was at the heart of Dons' deserved opener on 27 minutes, slipping in Walker who lifted over the onrushing Mitchell.

Danny Rose headed wide at the back post but that was Town's only genuine chance of the first-half and it might have been worse at the break if not for a sharp stop from Mitchell to deny Mason.

Ricky Korboa came on at half-time and within 10 minutes of the restart he had an excellent opportunity to equalise, only to shoot straight at Lee Nicholls after his first effort was blocked and fell back into his path.

Town carried more of an attacking threat in the second-half but struggled to carve out any clear chances, managing just one shot on target across the 90, while Dons looked increasingly dangerous on the break.

The visitors' passage through to the last eight of the competition was sealed with seven minutes to go when Cian Bolger hauled down Cameron Jerome and Walker coolly tucked away the subsequent penalty.

Match facts

Cobblers: Mitchell, Harriman, Bolger (c), Horsfall, Hoskins, Mills (Chukwuemeka 79), Sowerby (Missilou 87), McWilliams, Watson, Ashley-Seal (Smith 64), Rose (Korboa 45)

Subs not used: Berry, Dyche, Adams

MK Dons: Nicholls, Lewington, Keogh, Poole, Harvie (Davies 89), Sorinola, Surman (Gladwin 71), Sorensen, Fraser (Johnson 80), Walker, Mason (Jerome 71)

Subs not used: Fisher, Jallow, Smith

Referee: Craig Hicks