MK Dons 3 West Ham Utd 2

West Ham United slipped to a narrow defeat against Paul Ince's MK Dons in their latest pre-season friendly tonight.

The Hammers made it four without a win (and three defeats) since they beat Dagenham & Redbridge 2-0 in their first pre-season friendly a fortnight ago after letting go a 2-1 advantage at the Dons new stadium.

The home side took the lead as early as the 12th minute when Mark Wright squeezed a shot home. However United were level just four minutes later when Hogan Ephraim converted Luis Boa Morte's cross.

The Hammers took the lead barely a minute later when Matthew Upson notched his forst goal in a claret and blue shirt by converting a spilled Boa Morte cross - his second assist of the evening.

At that stage the Hammers were looking comfortable and took the lead into the half-time break. But it was to last just five minutes as the Dons were awarded a controvesial penalty after John Spector was adjudged to have pushed Broughton inside the box. Captain Andrews converted the spot kick to level the scores one again.

With just 15 minutes of the game remaining the Dons grabbed the winning goal through Knight, who gave Richard Wright no chance when firing low from the edge of the six-yard box.

On a slightly more positive note, Freddie Ljungberg made his first start for the club and lasted an hour before being replaced by youngster Tony Stokes.

So of United's five pre-season games thus far they have won one, drawn one and lost three. Whilst they are just friendly matches there will no doubt be a little disappointment at results thus far.

MK Dons: Steele (Abbey 73), Edds (Howell 73), Lewington (Stirling 73), Andrews (McKoy 73), Murphy (O'Hanlon 52), Diallo, Wright (McGovern 52), Broughton, Knight, Cameron (Morris 60), Dyer.

Goals: Wright (12), Andrews (51 pen), Knight (76).

West Ham United: Wright, Spector, Collins, Upson, Gabbidon, Ljungberg (Stokes 66), Dailly, Collison, Boa Morte (Jeffery 90), Ephraim, Bellamy.

Goals: Ephraim (16), Upson (18).

Referee: T.Kettle

Attendance: 9,610