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Match report |
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MK Dons 1-3 Swansea | |
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MK Dons 1-3 Swansea - Jim White
 I won't even attempt to do such a comprehensive match report like Mr Gigg but we did start well and i thought that it was bristol city all over again in the first 20 mins. Before Trunds got this first goal, Andy robinson had a free kick that just went wide and a great shot which hit the post. We looked so more skillful than MK Dons who simply looked to lug the ball up to 2 big strikers. The goal coming was no surprise. Whilst some MK fans might think it was offside, throughout the game, we had about 10 very close offside decisions when Connor and Trundle were running through on goal following a subtle pass. Therefore, if this one was offside, it made up for some of the others which clearly were not! I was pleased that Trunds finished this 1 on 1 as he has missed 2 so far this season but he slotted the ball away nicely and came to celebrate with the 700 or so jacks that had made the trip. We then had a 5 min spell where we looked like we would go on and get another and Paul Connor had a great header saved by the keeper after Robinson working hard to disposess their full back. From the mid way point in the first half, to the mid way point in the 2nd half, we had our poorest period of the match. Don't get me wrong, we were never under loads of pressure. I can only remember Willy making one save (and a bloody good one at that) in the first half and i don't remember any in the 2nd half (i was driving before anyone says was he drunk ). However, in this period of the game, we seemed to take our foot off the pace. Looking back now, it was as if we thought 'we can move up a gear and do this when were ready' but at the time it felt like 'we are going to blow this if were not careful'! Their goal stemmed from a silly back header from Izzy which went for a corner. It was at the far end and so difficult to see but it looked like a scramble in the box with their big centre half poking it across the line. Half time came and went - Sorry to Richard Lillicrap, i did not have tea and so had to give MK Dons more money by having a burger. Bloody good burgers they were though served by a lovely lady. Much better than what we get served up at White Rock. At least you could see these being cooked! We took our time to get into the game in the 2nd half, but we did look threatening. Macca (who had a very quiet game in my view) put a good ball across the box but no-one could finish it and i seem to remember Paul Connor have a tidy run on goal as well. Trunds was doing what he does best. Winding up the opposing players and winning freekicks which would make Norman Hunter curse! He shot over from one of them but you did sense we could get the 2nd goal and from his pass, Robinson got into the penalty area, took it round the keeper and slotted it home. We were all celebrating still and singing 'we are top of the league' when he got his 2nd. A good ball over the top and into space by Trundle and Robinson bore down on goal and finished well from the right hand side. Although it was down the other end, i did notice that every single outfield player apart from Willy went to celebrate the goal with Robbo. There is a lot of team unity and good spirit in that dressing room.  MK came back at us in their usual way of route one and whilst they had a few corners, we withstood any pressure to prevent the singing jacks from getting too worried. Ijah and Thorpe came on for Macca and Trunds but aside from a couple of fouls given away (guess who by!) they did very little. So, all in all a sound 3 points. We did what we needed to and now sit proudly on top of league 1. If Martin Scott was at the game, he would have left thinking 'this team is well organised, works hard and has an incisiveness and spark up front' which is difficult to contain. 23 goals in 8 games and a goal difference of +12 is fantastic and long may it continue My Player Ratings Gueret - 7 - I did not get a clear view of the game and so could not see if he was at fault for their goal. Made 1 excellent save in the first half which gets him the 7 as the header was going in. His kicking is still average but i am sure the girls liked him wiggling his bum when we were 3-1 up! Tate - 7.5 - He seems to get better and better every game. He and Sam did not have the chance to go forward as much as they did on Sat, but he defended well tonight with a number of good tackles and solid 'ball winning headers' Monk - 7 - Did not look fit tonight but that does not seem to matter for our Gary. Solid, Mr Dependable, timely tackles and well organised. A testimony to how he played was that i don't remember him conceding one foul last night Izzy - 7 - I thought he had another solid game. The MK Dons front 2 were VERY big lads but he battled with them and used his pace a number of times to help us get out of danger. I have said it before and will say it again, he looks a much better player with Gary Monk alongside him Ricketts - 7 - Solid game from Sam. Did what he needed to defensively and was always trying to support the midfield and forwards. Mcleod - 6 - After his performances in the past few weeks, one can forgive a quiet game for Macca and tonight (IMO) was that game. Whether a smaller pitch did not help him or whether it was just one of those games, he did not get involved like he has done. However, as we all know, that is no concern based on how he has done recently Bean - 7.5- I may get castigated for this but i thought he was really good last night. He is not a ball playing genius but is hardworking, industrious, breaks up play and is always harrying the opponents. It will be an interesting selection decision when Leon is back but i thought Beany was good tonight Martinez - 7 - Not his best game of the season but solid nonetheless. The pitch seemed too bobbly for him at times and its fair to say that our worst period of the match was when he could not get the ball down and put his foot on it. Robbinson - 8 - His 2 goals get him an 8. If the free kick or other shot had gone in, it would have been a 9. Good performnce from Andy. Has such lovely skillful feet and took the piss out of their defenders sometimes. He worked hard, was always the option and finished really well. Trunds - 7.5 - I first thought that he had a quiet game but when i think more about his contribution then it was key to us winning. Nicely taken goal, regular good interplay with Robbo and the fact that he takes plenty of men with him to other areas of the pitch, opens up space for others Connor - 8.5 - My MOM - Others may disagree with this one as well but i thought he worked really really hard all game. His running off the ball created so much space for other people and whilst he did not get on the scoresheet, he deserved a goal. Came back into defence a number of times to clear, won a good number of balls in the air and looked a handful. Is more of a teamplayer than people give him credit for Swansea Fans - 7.5 - Some good singing tonight. I thought that there was nearer 1000 jacks there tonight. Maybe MK Dons have been taking lessons from the Ospreys Ref - 4 - Thought he was bloody awful. MK Dons are in my view a rough, up and under team that are just right for Division 4 football. The amount of times they clattered into our players and did not get booked for it was unbelievable. I am all for not dishing out cards that are not deserved, but some of those challenges were way over the top and should have been punished. So, the trip to Franchise FC is over. They are certainly trying hard as a club to build an atmosphere and make up for having no history or culture to call on. However, something is badly missing and it shows. I think they will be relegated this year simply because they play a poor brand of football and with gates of 4.5k, they belong in that lower division. However, just as we are top after 8 and they are near the bottom, we all know that nothing is decided in September!!! Roll on Hartlepool! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Milton Keynes Dons: Baker, McClenahan, Morgan, Mills, Crooks, Lewington (Rizzo 65), Mitchell (Smith 74), Kamara, McKoy, Platt, McLeod (Wilbraham 68). Subs Not Used: Makofo, Carrilho. Booked: Mills. Goals: Mills 35. Swansea: Gueret, Tate, Monk, Iriekpen, Ricketts, Martinez, McLeod (Anderson 86), Robinson, Bean, Trundle (Thorpe 89), Connor. Subs Not Used: Murphy, Goodfellow, Edwards. Booked: Iriekpen. Goals: Trundle 16, Robinson 72, 77. Att: 4,798 Ref: M Dean (Wirral).
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