Accrington Stanley lost 1-0 to relegation rivals MK Dons and dropped into the bottom four – although they have a game in hand.

An eighth minute goal from Sullay Kaikai proved the difference between the sides at the Wham Stadium.

MK Dons are a point ahead of the Reds who have the chance to move out of the relegation places on Tuesday when they face Plymouth.

Defender Michael Nottingham and Baba Fernandes returned in defence for the Reds with Harvey Rodgers suspended and Mo Sangare injured. Toby Savin started in goal due to Lukas Jensen’s ban.

MK Dons had the first chance on two minutes with Sean McConville clearing Jack Tucker’s header off the line.

They took the lead on eight minutes when Conor Grant fed Sullay Kaikai in the area and he beat two players to squeeze the ball home from a tight angle.

The visitors continued to press for a second, Paris Maghoma firing straight at Savin after a quick breakaway.

Stanley’s first shot was on the half hour mark, Shaun Whalley glancing an effort wide before Aaron Pressley’s header wasn’t far off the top corner on 34 minutes.

But MK continued to forced the pace, Daniel Harvie heading wide and Mohamed Eisa’s effort was deflected off-target just before the break.

Stanley’s first shot on target came on 56 minutes and Jamie Cumming had to produce a diving save to keep out Tommy Leigh’s curling strike.

Strikers Matt Lowe and Cody Adedoyin came on in the 57^th minute as Stanley looked for an equaliser.

Mitch Clark’s dribbled to the by-line but his cross was collected by Cumming and there were a number of balls into the box, successive corners and goalmouth scrambles as the Reds upped the pace.

Leigh had a downward header collected by Cumming but MK substitute Max Dean had a great chance to double the scoring on 74 minutes when he burst through in the area but Savin superbly denied him.

The game went from end-to-end with Stanley pressing for an equaliser and MK Dons looking to capitalise on quick breakaways but the visitors held out.

Stanley: Savin, Fernandes, Tharme, Nottingham, Clark, Leigh, Martin (Nolan), Longelo (Lowe), McConville, Whalley (Adeoyin), Pressley

Subs: Isherwood, Butler-Oyedeji, Mancini, Quirk

Yellow: Nottingham, Tharme, Leigh

Attendance: 2465 (290 from MK Dons)