Dons are looking more like themselves again after bad spell

Three wins in a row has changed the landscape at Stadium MK once again.

A strong run through February had some supporters whispering about a late push for the play-offs, but when they slumped to four defeats in five, those talks were quickly silenced. But seven days and nine points later, Dons are back to where they were again, now just six points from the top six.

Well and truly out of their early March slump, Russell Martin can once again breathe a sigh of relief - not that he was overly concerned about his side's tough run - as his side are all but assured of a League One spot next season.

Dons' style, their identity came under fire during that poor run too, much to the irk of the manager. Sticking to his principles though, Dons have emerged out the other side with their style of football intact, and according to Martin, back to their usual selves again.

"After a really tough run, we're back to being 'us' more than ever," he said. "That takes a lot of courage.

"We didn't see that bad run coming. I don't know how it happened really, the players should be really disappointed. If you look at the way we started games, like a Gillingham, we shouldn't have lost as many games. But we did, it happened and that's why we're still in a transition.

"We've had a lot of change this year, but it would have been really easy, after being on a tough run, with a young group, playing how we do with what gets thrown at us by some asking whether we're up to it, to change. Well now we're proving we're up to it.

"It makes me incredibly grateful and it's bearing fruit on the pitch."