Martin waxes lyrical after team goals seal win over Northampton

Managers love a team goal, and Russell Martin got three on Tuesday night as MK Dons eased to a 3-1 win over Northampton Town in the EFL Trophy.

From Regan Poole's first career goal, Sam Nombe's first goal of the season and another first in the form of Matthew Sorinola's first goal too, all three came from terrific moves from the home side as they put their first points on the board in Group C.

It could and probably should have been a bigger margin of victory for Dons, with Baily Cargill missing a glorious chance shortly before half time, while David Kasumu and Joe Mason should have done better.

Despite those missed chances though, Martin was more than pleased with his side's showing.

"The goals were excellent," he said. "I think we should have had a few more if I want to nit-pick. We just got a bit anxious.

"Sam took his goal brilliantly, Matty took his goal fantastically but the one which stood out for me – Matty won a tackle on the edge of his box, we break, he runs 80 yards, crosses after the pass is far too hard for him, he ends up in the stand and Regan scores. Matty doing that typifies what they're willing to do for each other.

"A couple of guys have given me issues for Saturday now, forcing their way into our thinking."

Northampton had thumped Championship side Cardiff City on Saturday in the Carabao Cup and came to Stadium MK seeking their first win in Milton Keynes, and took the lead through a brilliant strike from Joseph Mills after 13 minutes. But after Poole's leveller on 33 minutes, Dons looked in total control.

Keith Curle's side are the first League One opposition Dons have faced since March, and the relative ease at which his side put Cobblers away impressed Martin.

He added: "We deserved to win it. It was a new challenge in the first half, to see how they set up to stop us. We had to find different solutions during the game. Losing a goal was disappointing from our end but a fantastic finish. Other than a few early chances, we limited them really well.

"We defended well, our work rate was incredible and the composure we had we knew would pay off. We knew teams will come here and make life difficult for us. We haven't faced that in pre-season either.

"Northampton are really good at they do, really aggressive. We didn't want it to get into a fight. But we really deserved it. I'm really pleased for the lads as a group."