Scott Fraser's second-half strike was enough to earn MK Dons all three points against Charlton Athletic in Sky Bet League One on Wednesday night.

Fans were back at The Valley for the first time since the pilot test event a few months ago and the excitement amongst them was palpable as Valley Floyd Road echoed around the ground ahead of kick-off.

It was MK Dons who would rise to the occasion early on, though, in what was ultimately a first-half of few real clear-cut chances in all truth.

Neat play from Russell Martin’s men usually involved Fraser, who was the away side’s best player, and he’d see an early drive saved by Ben Amos after surging into the box relatively unchecked by the Charlton defence.

Indeed, the MK Dons no.10 would see a handful of chances in the first 45, with a right foot effort heading harmlessly over and a strike on his left just before the break needing Amos to save with his feet.

For sure, it was the away side who seemed to be carrying more threat about them in this half, particularly in the first 30 minutes, with Addicks chances rather hard to come by in front of the couple of thousand willing them on.

Perhaps the best Addicks opening came for Conor Washington, who passed a late fitness test to get into the starting XI.

Andrew Shinnie managed to release Alex Gilbey, facing his old side, down the left flank. The ex-MK Dons man would then drift inside and find Adam Matthews who had advanced down the right.

Swinging the ball in, the full-back found the striker at the back stick but, in opting to take a touch rather than shoot first-time, he would see the ball whipped away by his marker.

A half the away side edged, then, with them looking the more comfortable and threatening in front of the returning crowd.

Charlton boss Lee Bowyer would make a change at half-time, with Marcus Maddison coming on for Andrew Shinnie, but it was Russell Martin’s side that had the best openings early on in the second half, too.

Matt Sorinola, in the book alongside Darren Pratley for a bit of a flare up in the first-half, jinked inside but saw his shot blocked by Amos’ feet – with Ben Gladwin fizzing wide a volley on the rebound.

Minutes later, meanwhile, Warren O’Hora nodded just over from a corner as Charlton were once again on the backfoot, with their fans urging them to get into their visitors’ faces more than they had up until now.

Indeed, Bowyer looked to shake the passive nature of this Addicks performance by bringing on Chuks Aneke and Jonny Williams, whilst Darren Pratley was pushed into midfield as Akin Famewo returned to the side after injury.

Shortly after, Charlton had a couple of chances, too. Pratley curled over from the edge of the box whilst Chuks Aneke and Alex Gilbey were both blocked well by the away side’s defence after a good ball in from Marcus Maddison.

A sign the tide was going to turn in the final portion of the game? MK Dons had other ideas.

Again, Scott Fraser found room on the left-hand side in the box and this time made no mistake. His finish was clinical as he rifled it across Ben Amos and into the bottom right corner, giving himself and, in fairness, his side a deserved goal.

Would this be enough to finally wake Charlton up? In a word, no. Darren Pratley would hit the underside of the crossbar in injury time after a defensive mix-up presented him the ball and a free net but that would be the closest the Addicks would come.

This, ultimately, was as passive and poor as we've perhaps seen from Charlton all season, much to the audible frustration of those that were in attendance tonight.

For MK Dons, meanwhile, an away performance to be proud of with them good value for their win at The Valley this evening.