Promotion with MK Dons would be 'even more special' for Kelly
Dons midfielder Liam Kelly spoke ahead of MK Dons’ penultimate game of the season against Tranmere Rovers
Liam Kelly has tasted promotion at Wembley, but he thinks securing automatic promotion could be even more special.
The midfielder was a part of the Crawley Town side who two years ago dismantled MK Dons in the play-off semi-finals before going on to score in the final against Crewe to send the Reds up to League One.
After moving to Milton Keynes that summer, Kelly has had to wait two years to be back on the brink of the third tier, with Dons able to book their spot with victory over Tranmere Rovers on Saturday at Stadium MK with a game to spare.
Knowing how it feels to celebrate a last-gasp promotion as he did with Crawley, Kelly believes completing the feat in the regular season would feel even better, especially doing it after his torrid first campaign at MK1.
“It would be amazing, especially with the season we had last year,” he said. “The people who brought me to the club, promotion was the stall they set out but obviously that didn’t happen. This is a club that deserves to go up the leagues so I hope that it happens.
“Relief is the first emotion. When you’re in the play-offs, even though it’s tough, it’s a three-game shoot-out. You can get a bit lucky, depending on where you finish can play a massive factor.
“To do it automatically would be even more special because you’ve done it in those 46 games which is no mean feat. To do it in 46 games is an unbelievable feat for anyone who can do it.”
Tranmere Rovers stand in the way of Dons and their prize though, with Pete Wild’s side still keen to put points on the board to ensure their safety and League Two status for next season as they sit four clear of the drop with two games to go.
Having seen teams at the wrong end of the table make life hard for Dons at times this season, Kelly said he is not expecting the visitors to roll out the red carpet for them.
He continued: “We’ve had a few games like that, with teams fighting for their lives. We know it will be tough but if we concentrate on ourselves, we’ll put ourselves in a good position.
“The game comes first, and then whatever happens, I don’t think you can replicate what happens, it will take care of itself.”