Experienced defenders had 'natural chemistry' in first game together

With in excess of 1,300 league games between them, Richard Keogh, Dean Lewington and George Williams did not need much time to get used to each other last weekend against Ipswich.

Keogh was making his first start for MK Dons since signing in the summer, while Williams was returning from injury as they were put into the side alongside captain Lewington and limited Ipswich - then top of the league - to just a handful of chances in the 1-1 draw.

Only Williams played against Stevenage on Tuesday night, with both Lewington and Keogh rested, but the latter says the trio have a natural chemistry after playing together just once.

"We had that chemistry naturally," said Keogh. "We've got experience, so we all knew our roles in the team, but the more we play together, the more we will improve. If you watch the game on its own, you'll think we'd have played together for years. That's a positive, moving forward. They're good guys and it's great to have that chemistry."

Keogh has racked up more than 530 league appearances during his career which is a remarkable stat in itself, but Lewington alongside him has 150 more under his belt. And after just a few months at the club, Keogh says Lewington's stature at the club is a sign of why he is still a regular in the starting line-up.

He siad: "I played against Dean a couple of times, and everyone associates him with the club. He's a dying breed, someone staying with a club for this length of time, an icon of the club. But you need those guys around, they know what it means to play for the club.

"I've been really impressed with him. He's a great guy, and a really good player. He's playing in a position he's not really played before but I think we play a style that suits his game. He's got a lovely left foot and I can see why he's played that many games."