Derby County were made to rue a number of missed chances as they drew 1-1 with MK Dons on Monday afternoon.
David McGoldrick scored his 21st goal of the season to give the Rams the lead but a second-half equaliser from Henry Lawrence ensured the points were shared.
The start almost mirrored that of the win at Forest Green Rovers as the Rams very nearly took the lead within the opening 90 seconds.
David McGoldrick did well to work a yard outside the box before being intercepted but the ball fell kindly to strike partner James Collins who hit it first time but his effort cannoned back off the post.
Nathaniel Mendez-Laing had one deflected inches wide from the edge of the area and Collins headed the corner that followed just over the bar as Paul Warne's men really began turning the screw.
The Rams got the goal their early pressure deserved after 16 minutes and it was top scorer McGoldrick again. Conor Hourihane's corner was flicked on by Collins and McGoldrick was there a yard out to tape home for one of the easier of his 21 goals in this campaign.
Derby's attacking play was relentless and Hourihane was the next to go close when his half-volley trickled inches wide of Jamie Cumming's far post.
Hourihane's press then saw him nick the ball in a dangerous position. He played in Collins who found Mendez-Laing and the winger fired just wide from a strong position.
The Rams really ought to have been out of sight before the break but with just one goal in it, the visitors had some hope going into the second-half.
MK were proving trickier customers following their half-time team-talk and Warne's men were finding chances harder to come by. They did however have a big shout for a penalty on the hour mark when Jason Knight went down under a challenge from a defender but referee Benjamin Speedie immediately waved away appeals.
The missed chances came back to haunt the Rams on 67 minutes when Henry Lawrence equalised with just the second attempt on target for the visitors, finishing well past Joe Wildsmith following a cross from Nathan Holland.
Substitute Lewis Dobbin was denied by a superb brilliant save down low from Cumming late on as the Rams searched for a winner.
Seven minutes of additional time were signalled and they were met with relentless Derby pressure but a winner could not be found.
The result keeps the seventh on 68 points, level on points with Bolton Wanderers who sit sixth.
Attendance: 26,793 (962 MK Dons supporters)
Derby County: Wildsmith (GK), Hourihane (71' White), Cashin, Barkhuizen (84' Sibley), Collins (71' Dobbin), McGoldrick, Mendez-Laing, Smith (71' Bird), Roberts, Rooney, Knight
Substitutes not used: McGee (GK), Davies, Forsyth
MK Dons: Cumming (GK), Watson, Lewington (C), McEachran (84' Johnson), Eisa (78' Dean), Holland (78' Grigg), Leko (45' Grant), Stewart, Lawrence, Jules (90' Robson), Maghoma
Substitutes not used: Ravizzoli (GK), Devoy
The Rams are back on the road next week when they travel to Bristol on Saturday to take on Bristol Rovers (3pm kick-off).
