Martin encouraged by MK Dons’ progress

Posted Monday, December 30, 2019 by PA

Russell Martin savoured a fine end to an encouraging December as MK Dons took all three points against high-flying Portsmouth with a well-earned 3-1 win.

First-half goals from Rhys Healey and Conor McGrandles gave them the initiative, before Alex Gilbey wrapped things up with five minutes to play.

And Martin, who has overseen a December in which the 21st-placed Dons have lost only once, was beaming with joy as they took their points total to eight for the month.

“The overriding feeling is immense pride in the players – we are in the bottom three and the courage the staff and players have shown and the way we have played has been there for all to see,” he said.

“We are trying to build something here that gets us out of trouble and is able to sustain us after we are out of trouble too.

“We need short-term success because of the position that we are in, but I have complete confidence in the players and in what we are trying to build.

“They did not create much and we got numbers behind the ball and defended well, and we looked dangerous on the counter-attack.

“I asked them to be brave and I am proud of them, the goals we scored were excellent and have shown real character and determination. I asked them for intensity and aggression and they gave me that.

“I think we deserved the win, but I am disappointed that we gave a goal away at the end. My players did not deserve that – they deserved a clean sheet after the defensive performance today.”

Ronan Curtis was the scorer of that goal deep into added time, offering the most minimal of silver linings to Kenny Jackett’s side at the death.

And the Pompey boss is ready to dip into the January transfer market in order to address the away-day woes that could cost them dear in their chase for promotion.

“We have to be able to dig in away from home and it was quite a ragged performance which we are disappointed with – we were on top but did not manage to get that goal that would have got us back in the game,” he said.

“At half-time I thought we could come back into it, we had chances in and around their box, but we did not do enough to make something of it.

“We will be looking to improve the squad in January, and we are looking to add one or two players.

“Our focus as a club is on New Year’s Day and our recruitment team is working hard to improve the squad in January.”