Robbo's excited for a Baldock family feud

Brighton striker Sam left Dons back in August 2011, destined for West Ham but didn’t come up against his former club until two years later while playing for Bristol City.

In two highly exciting 2-2 draws in League 1 , the older Baldock netted all four goals for his side before earning a move to Brighton, while coming head-to-head with George for the first time.

Since returning to Dons from his loan spell at Oxford in January, George Baldock has impressed manager Karl Robinson, who thinks the family feud will add spice to Saturday’s game.

Brighton striker Sam Baldock during the Sky Bet Championship match between Brighton and Hove Albion and Milton Keynes Dons at the American Express Community Stadium, Brighton and Hove, England on 7 November 2015. Photo by Bennett Dean. PSI-1119-0040

“I think George is excited for it, yes,” said Robinson. “Sam always seems to score against us, so hopefully he’s not playing!

“I don’t think we’ll be concentrating on Sam Baldock because we’ll trip ourselves up over the quality in the rest of the side.

“We signed the most exciting full back outside the Championship in January. We’ve looked really potent and efficient down that right-hand side.

“We know Brighton’s strengths. What we saw of them on Tuesday is their speed in attack, they’re an exciting team too. We have to be careful on Saturday when we’re attacking that we’re not open and disjointed at the back.

George baldock(21) of MK Dons takes throw in during the Sky Bet Championship match between Hull City and Milton Keynes Dons at the KC Stadium, Kingston upon Hull, England on 12 March 2016. Photo by Ian Lyall. PSI-1701-0039

“We have to finish with something too. If I had any criticism of our first half at Hull was that we got into some excellent positions but our shot count was really low. We need to be careful of the turn over.”

Samir Carruthers’ controversial actions at Cheltenham Racecourse earlier this week have seen the midfielder fined and suspended for urinating in a pint glass on a VIP balcony.

Given Dons’ precarious position in the Championship - just one point above the relegation zone with nine games remaining this season - Carruthers’ suspension has left Robinson short of players in central midfield, with injuries to Ben Reeves and Jake Forster-Caskey adding to his woes.

But Robinson feels the events of the last couple of days will give Dons a bunker mentality.

He said: “We’re stronger and closer than ever before. The controversy may bring us closer together.

“We will have to change the system. Antony Kay could play in there. I know what I’m going to do.

“The mentality of the group is phenomenal, especially when we’re still above Rotherham considering the run they’ve been on. We’ve gone quietly unnoticed, we hope we can stay under that radar.

“We just keep plodding along. We just hope it’ll carry us over the line at the end of the season.”