2,000 Addicks were welcomed back to The Valley but a second half goal from Scott Fraser, meant it wasn’t the result the Charlton faithful had hoped for.
The home supporters were loud and provided an atmosphere all in the stadium will have missed but MK Dons did a good job at spoiling the party with some clever possession football in the first half and Fraser’s decisive finish in the second.
Lee Bowyer made four changes from his side’s excellent away win at Portman Road on Saturday, with Conor Washington, returning from injury to partner the supersub at Ipswich Omar Bogle.
Despite the loud home support, it was MK Dons who started the better with Fraser firing over from distance before drawing a fine save from Ben Amos.
At the other end the Addicks struggled to created any real clearcut chances in the opening half hour with MK Dons controlling possession. Conor Washington saw a 38th minute shot block and then maybe took just too much time with the Addicks best move of the first half resulting in a deep from from the right wing.
The Addicks finished the half strongly and Washington was inches away from getting on the end of an Alex Gilbey cross that would have no doubt given Charlton the lead.
Amos denied Fraser again before the break as the two sides went in 0-0 at half-time.
Bowyer made a change to begin the second half with Marcus Maddison replacing Andrew Shinnie.
Again Amos was called into action at the start of the second half, denying Matthew Sorinola and Carlton Morris twice.
The Charlton Manager was quick to make further changes with Chuks Aneke and Jonny Williams, both who started on Saturday, replacing Bogle and Albie Morgan and then Akin Famewo returning to action in place of Ben Watson.
Washington forced MK stopper Andrew Fisher into action in the 68th minute, cutting inside from the left after a lovely crossfield ball from Maddison. The Northern Ireland international's shot was too close to Fisher who saved well.
Darren Pratley then curled a 73rd minute shot, from just outside the box, over the bar, as the Addicks began to take more control of the game.
Just as Charlton seemed to have control Fraser ran in behind the Addicks defence and stuck an excellent low shot into the bottom corner of the goal to put MK Dons 1-0 up.
The Addicks tried to get back into it and Maddison’s cross from the right was stabbed just wide by Aneke under heavy pressure from the visiting defence.
Pratley was denied a dramatic stoppage-time equaliser when his difficult volley bounced back off the visitors' crossbar and MK Dons were able to hold on for three points.
Charlton: Amos; Matthews, Gunter, Pratley (C), Purrington; Watson (Famewo 66), Shinnie (Maddison 46), Morgan (Williams 60), Gilbey; Bogle (Aneke 60), Washington
Subs (not used): Maynard-Brewer, Pearce, Henry
Booked: Pratley 35 (reacting to Sorinola), Gilbey (60), Maddison 88 (foul on Sorinola)
MK Dons: Fisher, Lewington (C), Keogh, Gladwin (Poole 76), Kasumu, Morris, Fraser, O’Hora, Surman (Sorensen 66), Sorinola, Jerome (Walker 81)
Subs (not used): Nicholls, Williams, Cargill, Harvie
Goal: Fraser 76
Booked: Sorinola 35 (foul on Pratley), Lewington 70 (foul on Matthews)
Referee: A Davies
Attendance: 2,000