BURY fell to their first defeat in four games as they lost 2-0 at home to MK Dons.

Osman Sow put the visitors ahead early on and Bury had a good couple of chances to equalise but Michael Smith and Josh Laurent could not convert their respective efforts.

Former Shaker Ethan Ebanks-Landell doubled the advantage after the break with a deft header.

Bury tried to force their way back into the game late on but even when they did break through the back line, Tom Nicholls was there between the sticks to preserve the clean sheet.

Lee Clark made just the one change from the side which beat Oxford in midweek as Neil Danns was handed his first start in place of Callum Reilly.

Bury fell behind inside six minutes when Sow burst onto Scott Golbourne’s long ball through the middle and coolly slotted it past Leo Fasan.

Aaron Tshibola had a chance to double the advantage soon after but he dragged a shot wide when one-on-one.

Smith had a great chance to equalise when he brought down Phil Edwards’ pass inside the six-yard box, but he was unable to beat Nicholls with the finish.

Chris Maguire then had a 25-yard free kick deflected narrowly wide before Laurent blasted into the side netting after being picked out by Jermaine Beckford.

Fasan had to be on his toes to keep out Agard’s curling effort from the edge of the box.

Four minutes after half time defender Tom Aldred was forced off with an injury so Joe Skarz came on as his replacement.

And Bury had a good chance to draw level when Edwards popped up in the box but he could not keep his header down from Chris Humphrey’s right-wing delivery.

Ebanks Landell doubled the lead in the 67th minute when he headed Golbourne’s corner home.

Mihai Dobre was brought on with 20 minutes to go and he injected pace and creativity into the home side.

And Laurent had a decent effort to pull a goal back late on but Nicholls flew across his goal to palm away the danger and wrap up the three points.