Milton Keynes Dons 3-0 Newport County: Three first-half goals seal victory

MK Dons midfielder Alex Gilbey had a loan spell with Newport County back in 2013

MK Dons moved within three points of the automatic promotion places with a comfortable 3-0 win over Newport.

Dan Kemp scored to give the hosts the lead after 12 minutes before turning provider for Jack Payne to double Dons' advantage.

And MK Dons were three goals up before the break as Alex Gilbey struck home his seventh goal of the season.

County made changes at half-time, but could not find a way back into the contest as they drop to 16th.

MK Dons remain in fifth place, but are now one win off the top three following Wrexham's defeat at Gillingham.

Newport manager Graham Coughlan told BBC Sport Wales:

"We didn't compete. They were better with the ball and we were sloppy. We gave ourselves a mountain to climb.

"Some of the performances were not good enough. If you want to represent this football club, yourself and me it has to be better.

"It was painful watching the game, I'm sure the fans would have been going through the same thing."