MK Dons 2, City 0

SEQUELS are rarely a patch on the original – and there was no rousing reprise for City in Milton Keynes last night.

The Bantams could not match their recent League One exploits and grab a place in the last 16 of the Capital One Cup.

But this was no Jaws: The Revenge-style stinker of a follow-up – and once again the battling qualities of the visitors could not be faulted.

In particular, City gave it a good run in the second half against the division's top scorers and showed that the fighting spirit runs deep within the ranks.

However depleted the resources, you can be sure this lot will go down fighting.

Phil Parkinson had hoped his mix-and-match side would be inspired by the memories of two seasons ago to launch another magical cup run.

The atmosphere certainly failed to set pulses racing – the cavernous stadium:mk was no match for the vibrant Valley Parade which saw Leeds put to the sword in the previous round.

The City cast list was once again missing several headliners. James Hanson, Andrew Davies and Alan Sheehan were joined on the sidelines by skipper Stephen Darby, whose tight groin prevented him from travelling.

It was strange to see the Bantams line up without the dependable defender – the last time was back in January 2013 when he was given the night off from a JP Trophy trip to Crewe. Darby's absence ended a run of 85 successive starts in that time.

That just added to the selection headache for Parkinson – but at least his SOS call to Derby paid off over Mason Bennett. The Championship club granted the on-loan striker permission to play, even though they were still in the competition.

Bennett lined up on the left wing as Parkinson opted for a flat four-man midfield with MK old boy Filipe Morais on the right.

Jason Kennedy shifted into the middle to accommodate Gary Liddle's move to makeshift right back.

Oliver McBurnie was handed a big chance up front in place of Aaron Mclean, who was one of only two players among the seven substitutes who had played senior football – highlighting the lack of resources at Parkinson's disposal.

City might have won the previous four meetings between the sides, including three away, but the odds were stacked even higher against them than before last week's battling league triumph.

And the task got a load mightier just four minutes and 24 seconds in.

Dele Alli, the MK wonder kid who is apparently on Bayern Munich's radar, played a pass in to Benik Afobe, who had his back to goal on the edge of the City box.

The on-loan Arsenal striker, scorer of two of the four goals that demolished Manchester United in the last round, immediately spun marker Rory McArdle and fired past Ben Williams.

That sparked fears of a landslide but City, to their credit, quickly dusted themselves down.

Billy Clarke launched a one-man response from the kick-off to force David Martin into a low save and the visitors gradually grew in confidence as the half progressed.

Ben Reeves bent a free-kick well over but otherwise City more than held their own and Bennett was not far off with a curled effort beyond the far post after being picked out by Clarke.

Bennett and Morais frequently swapped wings as the pair looked to use the full width of the enormous pitch with their added pace.

But Bennett looked a shade fortunate in his own penalty area when he caught Samir Carruthers before the ball ran out of play – and the referee pointed for a corner.

McBurnie was a willing worker but had got little change out of the hosts' experienced central defensive duo of Kyle McFadzean and Antony Kay.

But the youngster finally got a half-chance as half-time approached. Liddle rescued a loose ball to pick him out with a cross but McBurnie could not direct his glancing header.

Kay sneaked round the back to get on the end of a Dons free-kick but Williams gathered safely. Defensively, City had not been rattled since the goal and Christopher Routis again looked a composed figure in the middle.

MK Dons tried to press again after the resumption and Dean Bowditch cleverly held off James Meredith to play in Jordan Spence for a cross-shot that fizzed along the City goalmouth.

Williams then came to City's rescue with two blocks in the space of 20 seconds to deny Afobe, the first after an excellent pass from Darren Potter before following up with another block at the near post.

The City keeper saved comfortably from Alli before Afobe headed over a Spence cross as the hosts continued to turn the screw.

But Williams was left a spectator by a thumping 25-yard drive from McFadzean, which crashed against the post. The rebound pinged out to Reeves but his follow-up was deflected wide.

Parkinson brought on his "only" cavalry with 25 minutes to go and threw on Mark Yeates and Mclean.

The arrival of fresh faces energised City, even if the shooting radar remained amiss. Clarke drilled one wide after a slip from McFadzean and then Kennedy fired high into the away fans behind Martin's goal.

There was added belief in their play – but Martin had still not been forced into meaningful action. Mclean jumped to meet a Billy Knott corner but his minimal connection summed up the lack of a killer touch where it mattered.

Kay headed Knott's dangerous cross over his own bar before Martin was finally called upon to save smartly after Kennedy volleyed a Morais cross.

Rookie Reece Webb-Foster was handed his senior bow for the closing moments but the sub had not touched the ball when the tie was put beyond the Bantams.

Alli split open the City ranks to send Afobe scuttling away to beat Williams with his ninth goal of the campaign – and fifth in the Capital One Cup.

Attendance: 5,707