Dynamic Dons’ lofty ambitions

High-fliers have every reason to dream of promotion

KARL Robinson’s passionate antics may get some backs up, but there’s no question he’s walking the walk every bit as well as he talks the talk.

The 34-year-old MK Dons manager — who produced a fist-pump gesture directed at visiting Athletic fans after one fiery victory at Stadium mk two years ago — has guided his side into a terrific position at this stage of the campaign.

With on-loan Benik Afobe plundering 18 goals in only 16 starts to date, the Dons sit third in Sky Bet League One, three points worse off than Swindon but with a game in hand.

Athletic can’t afford to be under any illusions — this is arguably every bit as daunting as the game at then-unbeaten Bristol City was, and that was a fixture Lee Johnson’s side entered full of the confidence that a 13-match unbeaten run brings.

The Dons themselves are in the middle of a 10-match run without losing.

On Saturday, they drew 1-1 at Preston. Carl Baker opened the scoring for the Dons before Scott Wiseman equalised, with the only mild

criticism offered by Robinson to his side being that they went slightly too direct in the second half.

“Our last two games away from home have been Sheffield United and Preston and we have taken four points from those,” said Robinson.

“We are on a club-record number of games undefeated in League One. It’s not bad, is it?

“We now turn our thoughts back to the wonderful Stadium mk and Oldham (on Saturday), which is a massive challenge for us.

“I love every bit of this job and the players are a credit to

themselves and the football club.”

THE FORM . . .

It’s ominous. MK Dons have only lost once at home in the league all season, when Bradford came away with a 2-1

victory.

They did suffer a 1-0 defeat to Chesterfield in the second round of the FA Cup on home soil a couple of weeks ago — a game that is now having to be replayed, to both clubs’ annoyance, due to the Spireites fielding an ineligible player.

But it’s probably fair to suggest most minds are targeted on promotion. And the last League One clash at Stadium mk saw visitors Colchester smashed 6-0.

It goes without saying the free-scoring Dons will have to be marshalled far more effectively than Yeovil’s men were last week.

Even Manchester United found it impossible to contain Robinson’s side, with Louis van Gaal experiencing his most difficult game in charge to date when suffering a 4-0 pounding in the Capital One Cup.

PLAYER GUIDE . . .

Whizz-kid Dele Alli is the name on many observers’ lips, with his all-action displays in midfield provoking

speculation that the 18-year-old is a £9million transfer target for Liverpool next month.

Alli has struck nine goals from his deep role already this season, in a campaign in which the Dons are the leading

divisional scorers with 40.

In a settled side, the Dons appear solid at the back with Kyle McFadzean, a

summer signing from Crawley, starring in the Preston draw last week.

Former Stockport and Coventry

midfield man Baker’s excellent recent displays led to him picking up November’s player of the month award in League One — succeeding Athletic’s Jonathan Forte — and even with Afobe experiencing such a hot streak, on-loan Brentford and Northern Ireland striker Will Grigg, who is in good form himself, may get the nod to start the game on Saturday.

EXPERT VIEW . . .

Toby Lock, Milton Keynes Citizen: “Nobody is wanting to sing from the rooftops about it at this stage, but things are running quite smoothly.

“We have been here before, but the feeling is that this side might be the best in recent years.”

LINE-UP . . . 4-2-3-1

Martin; Spence, Kay, McFadzean, Lewington; Potter, Alli; Powell, Reeves, Baker; Grigg.