The defender is keen to contribute at both ends of the pitch for MK Dons

Finding the back of the net and chipping in on the scoresheet has come as a relief for Marvin Ekpiteta.

The centre-back had to wait until his 27 match in an MK Dons shirt to find the back of the net for the first time in the 2-2 draw with Grimsby Town, but only had to wait a week for his second when he lashed in what turned out to be the winner against Cheltenham.

“I’m really pleased,” said Ekpiteta. “It’s nice to get some goals for the team, and personally of course it feels good to score. Earning points for the team, it’s really good.

“In League Two, a lot of goals are scored from set-pieces, and I certainly need to contribute more to the team with goals. I’m happy I’ve been able to do that lately.”

With the side currently enjoying a six-game unbeaten run, and are still in the thick of the promotion scrap, sat fifth in League Two, three points off the automatic promotion spots.

Heading into back-to-back home games against Newport County and Crawley Town, two teams scrapping against relegation, Ekpiteta said the mood in the dressing room is upbeat.

“Everyone is positive,” he continued. “We have to keep ticking wins off, taking each game one at a time. Personal performances aren’t that important, as long as we get the job done as a team, that’s the main thing.

“They’re at the other end of the table but they are fighting for their lives, fighting to stay in the division. They could be fighting for contracts, playing for their careers. These games will be tough.

“It’s such a tight league. Some of the draws we’ve picked up recently, it has cost us. With wins, we’d have been up there. A draw on paper might look good but because it’s so tight, it’s two points dropped.”