League One MK Dons thrashed Queens Park Rangers 4-2 at Loftus Road this afternoon to condemn the Premier League strugglers to an embarrassing FA Cup exit.
© PA Photos
Hoops boss Harry Redknapp rested many of his key players and paid the penalty as the visitors reached the fifth round of the competition for the first time in their history.
It could have been very different, though, had it not been for a string of first-half saves from Dons keeper David Martin.
After Armand Traore had diverted the ball into his own net to gift Karl Robinson's side a fourth-minute lead, Rangers came close to finding the net at the right end on several occasions.
Martin firstly saved well from Alejandro Faurlin's powerful drive and was then called upon to deny both Jamie Mackie and Esteban Granero.
The Dons stopper even had an impact going forward as his long punt bounced over Anton Ferdinand and found Ryan Lowe, who struck low past Robert Green.
A two-goal half-time cushion soon turned into three when substitute Ryan Harley converted from close range after good work from Lowe on the Dons right.
The visitors were in dreamland when the impressive Darren Potter added a fourth.
Jay Bothroyd headed in a knock-back from the returning Bobby Zamora to reduce the deficit and then set up Fabio da Silva for a QPR second.
However, they only proved to be consolation efforts as the Dons pulled off a memorable upset in convincing fashion.
Joe Fish
