Dons’ strikers must be braver and sharper in front of goal

Russell Martin has urged the MK Dons strikers to be braver when it comes to shooting in and around the penalty area.

Dons have scored just three goals in their last five games, which included a goal-less draw with National League side Eastleigh, which also went through extra time on Sunday in the FA Cup.

But after just three shots against Northampton last week, the goal-shy Dons’ then took 14 but still could not break the deadlock at the Silverlake Stadium.

After seemingly sorting their defensive problems though, keeping four clean sheets in seven, Martin wants his side to sharpen up at the other end of the pitch.

He said: “We need to take more risks in the final third, they play with so much courage and composure all over the pitch but we need to add that to the final third.

Martin continued: “We need more time to work, we’re at a point now where we never really look like a game has gone away from us at any point.

“We’ve got real conviction in what we are doing so teams know it’ll be really difficult.

“We’re giving teams too much to hang onto, that’s what Northampton spoke about and they hit the bar late on.

“We need time to work and get our best players on the pitch together.

“It’s similar for a few clubs that have been effected by Covid, we haven’t been able to have them enough from the start and we’ve got to manage them through the break now.”