MK Dons 1-0 Leyton Orient
Carrington strikes again for Dons
The stadium:mk crowd must be wondering why Mark Carrington has only started eight league games this season.
The 22-year-old midfielder has shown himself to be a real predator in the box when called upon and another goal on Saturday proved just that, and most crucially was the difference between Dons and Leyton Orient.
His strike rate this season is one goal every two games and all of those have come at home, the summer free transfer again staking his claim for a regular starting berth.
Paul Ince brought in the likes of Nigel Quashie on loan in a bid to brighten up the midfield earlier in the season. He also moved Jason Puncheon to the middle for more of an attacking threat, and only a few weeks ago 40-year-old coach Alex Rae was brought off the substitutes' bench instead of Carrington.
Yet, all this time maybe the answer to Dons' central midfield problems has been under his nose, patiently waiting for his chance.
And to be fair to the former Crewe man, when called upon he has not let anyone down. He is calm in possession, has good technical ability and isn't scared of a tackle. Now he deserves a run in the team to prove he is not just a flash in the pan.
The win against Leyton Orient wasn't flashy. It was deserved and relatively comfortable but not an eye-catching one.
Orient put in one of the poorest performances seen at stadium:mk and approached the game with all the ambition of a prisoner on death row - they only had one decent effort on goal in 90 minutes. Dons won't complain though, they earned their first shut-out since mid-January and ended a run of four defeats in five.
They also claimed the win without the recently influential Andros Townsend who was recalled by Tottenham just 24 hours before kick-off by Spurs boss Harry Redknapp.
Milton Keynes born midfielder Mark Randall replaced him and put in a solid performance that finally lived up to the hype.
The result and most importantly the ones that went in their favour on Saturday means Dons are back in the hunt for the play-offs, just about.
The first half wasn't vintage stuff by any stretch of the imagination.
The visitors couldn't build up any pressure, while Dons lacked width and ingenuity.
Jermaine Easter was the main threat and he smashed a shot wide from the edge of the box early on. Ince's troops were patient though and causing some problems with long throws and corners.
The pressure was beginning to build on the Londoners by now, with Dons keeping them penned in their own half, but were trying to be too cute and intricate with their passing.
Eventually it took a simple chipped pass between defence and goalkeeper from Aaron Wilbraham, that Carrington gambled on, for Dons to take the lead.
He just nipped in front of Jamie Jones and headed the ball home as his impressive scoring record at stadium:mk continued.
The second half was very much the same as Dons bossed the play and possession without ever really cutting Orient open.
Although they really should have gone 2-0 up early into proceedings when they took advantage of a surprise refereeing decision and took the free kick quickly as Carrington played in Chadwick one-on-one with Jones, only for him to fire a poor shot at the 'keeper.
Randall then showed good feet to jinx away from his man but his shot from 25 yards was wayward. Dons continued to dominate and Easter fired over after controlling Dean Lewington's scuffed cross.
The pressure almost paid off as the ball appeared to hit Sean Thornton's hand in the penalty area , the players and crowd appealed vociferously for a penalty only to have their appeals fall on deaf ears.
Lewington then saw another headed chance again sail over. Up until then the visitors had literally not had a sniff in front of goal. But in the last 10 minutes they at least got in Dons' 18 yard box and Willy Gueret had to pull off an eye-catching save after sub James Scowcroft's searing volley.
That was all they could muster though as Dons saw out the last few minutes professionally for a win that keeps their play-off hopes alive and made their manager a little more happy.
Ince was pleased with his side's performance, but warned them about needing to finish games off.
He said: "We were by far the better side and I think Willy only had one save to make in the last five minutes and that was it.
"I am disappointed we didn't put the game to bed. Chaddy had a great chance and he's got to score and we should have had a penalty, but at this time of the season we have just got to be happy to get a result.
"In the last 15 minutes when we had to make our blocks we made them, and throw our heads in we did it - the spirit was there."
The win keeps the play-off dream alive but Ince isn't looking at the table for now. He just says they need to concentrate on winning as many games as possible.
With that in mind he hasn't declared tonight's (Tuesday) clash with rivals Swindon a must win game though.
"We always believe that we have got to take each game as it comes. It's out of our hands, we have just got to try and win every game and if we do we'll see where it takes us," he said.
Ince watched the whole 90 minutes from the stands on Saturday, but admitted there was no tactical reason for it, just a nasty illness.
"I have got a chest infection and I thought if I spend the second half shouting it will make it worse. It worked though, maybe I'll do it again."
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Weather for Milton Keynes
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: -0 C to 2 C
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