Dons still in hunt for automatic promotion

EASIER fixtures exist than the one ambitious MK Dons have had to endure recently.

The promotion-chasing outfit have faced consecutive away trips to Stevenage, Huddersfield and Charlton over the course of the past month, gaining a solitary point from their top-six rivals.

The latest setback came at The Valley against the side topping npower League One.

Karl Robinson's men lost 2-1 to a pair of Johnnie Jackson penalties on Tuesday, 10-goal top scorer Dean Bowditch pulling one back in a game in which the visitors were comfortable, before having Gary MacKenzie sent off for a headbutt which led to the first spot-kick.

"It was a performance of men, good footballers, people who care for the club," said Robinson afterwards. "I don't think you can ask much more."

With on-loan Newcastle midfielder Alan Smith on board and epitomising that keen spirit, the Dons will be targeting their forthcoming fixtures to spark a push for the top two in npower League One

Remarkably, the visit of Sheffield United to stadium:mk is the only remaining fixture that Robinson's men face against a club currently in the top six — a fact that could make what appears a very solid team on paper a decent outside bet for automatic promotion.

To see off Athletic on home soil on Saturday, the Dons will have to perform a great deal better than they did the last time the sides met.

In a televised clash in October, goals from Shefki Kuqi and Tom Adeyemi helped Athletic boss Paul Dickov to a thoroughly-deserved 2-1 victory over his friend and opposite number Robinson.