MK Dons slipped to their fourth home defeat of the season as Ismail Yakubu's goal gave Barnet an unlikely win at stadiummk.

It was only a third win in 14 league games for Paul Fairclough's men but their slaying of the League 2 leaders saw the Dons' lead cut to eight points at the top.

In many ways it was a familiar story at stadiummk with the visitors spending much of the game packing their defensive third and making life for Paul Ince's team very difficult.

But they'd earned the right to defend a lead with an explosive opening 20 minutes in which they frequently forced the Dons onto the back foot.

Captain Yakubu's contribution at that point turned out to be a match-winning one, but it was his work alongside central defensive partner Joe Devera that truly earned Barnet the points.

Initially faced with makeshift striker Jude Stirling, Yakubu and co did a great first-half job to keep the home side to long-distance shots in the first period.

But even with the introduction of giant forwards Aaron Wilbraham and later Drewe Broughton, the Barnet defence led by their skipper and protected by the die-hard Neal Bishop saw off the leaders' challenge.

Again without the injured Kevin Gallen and with Wilbraham on the bench short on match-fitness, Dons boss Paul Ince turned to Stirling to lead his attack, supported by the in-form Jemal Johnson.

Dean Lewington keeps a close eye on Max Porter and Jason Puncheon.

But it was Barnet's strikers that caught the eye early on, first Cliff Akurang and then twice former Don Jason Puncheon, going close with long-range efforts in the opening quarter-hour.

The Dons had barely had a sniff of goal when Barnet took the lead on 22 minutes, with the busy Puncheon providing the ammunition.

Lloyd Dyer was arguing the decision to award a corner, clearly feeling the ball had come off Ashley Carew, but Puncheon lined it up nonetheless.

The striker's corner from the right was returned straight back to him, and when he swung a vicious low ball in left-footed, Akurang jumped over it and Yakubu steered it into the roof of the net at the far post.

As you would expect from a side that started the day 11 points clear at the league's summit, the Dons started to mount a response but were unable to build any sustained pressure.

Keith Andrews fired in a shot that was well held by Barnet 'keeper Rob Beckwith after exchanging passes with the excellent Luke Howell on the right.

The Dons skipper found shooting space again just past the half-hour but despite being given time and space, drove a powerful right-footed shot just past the upright from 25 yards.

Yakubu's superb challenge on Andrews shortly afterwards was a statement that he for one wouldn't allow the Dons talisman to dominate and when Andrews' 30-yard free-kick had to be retrieved from the North Stand you sensed it might not be the Dons' day.

Ismail Yakubu keeps the ball away from Jemal Johnson.

The home side upped the ante after the break with Howell in particular bombing forward on the right hand side to force Nicky Nicolau into defending he never really wanted to do.

The Dons full-back nearly got a reward for his energy when he followed up a blocked shot from Johnson, but as Howell's effort headed for the net, it was typically Yakubu who stuck out a leg and send the ball behind for a corner.

Wilbraham replaced Stirling and the effectiveness of the high ball forward increased immediately as a recognised target man entered the fray.

But when his side created their best chance of the game, it was no surprise that Howell provided it.

Bombing forward again desperate to join the attack, Howell whipped in a terrific first-time cross from the right.

It was just too high for Wilbraham but landed right on the head of Andrews, the Dons skipper diverting the ball just past the post from 10 yards.

Keith Andrews is frustrated by Rob Beckwith and Ismail Yakubu.

Andrews was as disappointed as anyone when the net didn't bulge but his side could have been further behind a minute later. Ashley Carew's cross from the right was just too far in front of Bishop, but when Nicolau took aim at the far post, Willy Gueret did well to parry his shot to safety.

Substitute Colin Cameron saw an effort blocked after being teed up by Mark Wright but had Bishop sealed the points for the Bees with three minutes to go, it would have been a goal worthy of it.

Running onto a loose ball in the centre of the park, Bishop's dummy left Drissa Diallo for dead but his curling left-foot shot from 20 yards just shaved the outside of the post.

With bodies thrown forward at the death, Diallo nearly succeeded with a deft chip over Beckwith four minutes into injury time.

But when the Bees' keeper clawed the ball out and straight into the unknowing Andrews, the sight of the ball bouncing wide told you everything you needed to know.

Not a day to remember for the 9,881 who saw it. Apart from the 500-plus Barnet supporters who travelled up from North London.

Dons back down to earth with a bump. They have seven days to regroup before travelling to basement boys Wrexham next Saturday.

MK Dons: Gueret, Howell (Broughton 77), Diallo, O'Hanlon, Lewington, Wright, Navarro, Andrews (c), Dyer (Cameron 63), Johnson, Stirling (Wilbraham 58).

Subs not used: Carbon, Abbey.

Booked: Diallo

Barnet: Beckwith, Porter, Yakubu (c), Devera, Gillet, Carew, Wright, Bishop, Nicolau, Puncheon, Akurang.

Subs not used: Harrison, Thomas, Grazioli, Birchall, O'Cearuill.

Goal: Yakubu (22)

Booked: Bishop, Carew, Akurang.

Referee: Steve Bratt (West Midlands)

Attendance: 9,881