MK Dons closed the gap on Swindon Town and Bristol City at the top of League One with a comfortable victory over Barnsley at Stadium MK this afternoon.
The hosts could have been ahead inside the first five minutes after Dean Bowditch rounded Ross Turnbull before his timid strike was hacked off the line by George Williams.
Milan Lalkovic briefly threatened for the Tykes when his shot from a narrow angle was saved by David Martin.
However, MK Dons continued to be in the ascendancy as Daniel Powell forced a save out of Turnbull and Dele Alli struck the woodwork before the break as the home side failed to convert their dominance into a lead.
The hosts thought they had scored an opener when Will Grigg netted from close range, only to see offside flag raised.
Karl Robinson's side finally managed to find a breakthrough within 12 minutes of the restart when another Alli strike from distance found a way past Turnbull.
Six minutes later, the Dons put clear daylight between the teams as Jordan Spence crossed for Grigg, who scored from close range.
The hosts went in search of more goals as Baker and substitute Jonson Clarke-Harris saw late efforts saved, but the Dons were able to see out a victory that puts them within three points of an automatic promotion place.
Chris O'Keefe
