Robbie Neilson: MK Dons battling for League One position

Posted Sunday, January 21, 2018 by PA

MK Dons manager Robbie Neilson admits his side are in a relegation battle after their 2-1 defeat to Northampton on Saturday left them in the League One bottom four.

Dons, who targeted promotion at the start of the campaign, were beaten by two first-half goals after John-Joe O’Toole put the Cobblers ahead before Alex Gilbey quickly levelled, only for Chris Long to restore the home side’s advantage on the cusp of half-time.

The visitors had late chances to salvage a point but could not convert and – as a result – they replace Northampton in the relegation zone, with their misery compounded by a late red card for Chuks Aneke.

“The result is disappointing,” admitted Neilson, whose side have now won only one of their last 11 league games. “We brought a big following here and we didn’t get the result we wanted.

“At times we played some good football and we created a lot of opportunities but we shot ourselves in the foot with the two goals we conceded so that was disappointing.

“We’re in a battle and we need stick together as a team and as a club and make sure we get out of this because I have huge belief we will.

“Obviously I didn’t want to drop into the relegation zone. We didn’t envisage it at the start of the season and we have to face the reality of it and the fact we’re in a battle and we need to get out of it.

“The only way we’ll do that is by sticking together as a group and make sure we continue to work, continue to do the right things and cut out some of the mistakes.”

Northampton manager Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink saw his side climb to 18th with a third-straight win.

“The most important thing is the three points,” said Hasselbaink. “In spells, we were brilliant and that was good to see but in other spells there were mistakes and things that we must improve on and get better.

“We can’t make those mistakes but today was the first time that back four played together so I can’t complain because they did ever so well.

“We found an extra man because of how the opposition played and they understood it and we got in from that and scored from two crosses.

“We had more chances to score so in that aspect I can’t complain and I won’t complain – we just want more and we will try to get more while keeping that positive feeling for as long as possible and work on the things that didn’t go so well.

“What we need to understand is what the negatives are because you need to know your weaknesses and that’s what we need to focus on.”