“Fortunately, we won’t play Coventry every week”: Alexander on Dons’ pre-season loss

MK Dons will not face many teams like Coventry City in their League Two campaign next season, admitted Graham Alexander after his side were thumped 5-1 on Tuesday night.

Coventry were narrowly beaten to a spot in the Premier League by Luton Town in May, losing out on penalties to the Hatters at Wembley in the Championship play-off final.

Despite taking the lead for the first time in pre-season through Jonathan Leko’s first minute penalty, goals from Ellis Simms (2), Josh Eccles, Kasey Palmer and Bradley Stretton ensured the rout for the Sky Blues.

Throughout pre-season, Alexander has put little credence in the results his side have picked up - now three defeats and a draw from four matches - and felt his side were put through their paces by a side they will not see the likes of in the fourth tier this season.

“Fortunately, we won't be playing Coventry every week!” he said afterwards. “It was a tough game for us, Coventry are a fantastic outfit who were a penalty away from the Premier League. We knew it would be tough, but we made a terrific start. There are bits in there we can take away and use in our league programme.

“The only disappointment from the first-half was conceding a second so quickly after the first. It was a game management situation - seeing there's two minutes to go before half-time, you see the game through and come in at 1-1.

“We changed our shape in the second-half and we looked a little more joined up and clear, but we also wanted to look at a different formation too in the first-half.

“There were things in there we could have changed at half-time which would help us in the game and not in the league, but we wanted to stick to what we're trying to do. It's what we've been training for.

“There is still a lot of work on and off the pitch to do, but I was delighted with the work ethic of the players.”