Russell's revolution has turned Dons into something good

The dark clouds were firmly set at MK Dons when, 106 days ago, Russell Martin hung up his boots to take over as manager.

There weren't many grumbles when Paul Tisdale was shown the door at Stadium MK following Dons' 3-1 home defeat to Tranmere Rovers. The football had lost sight of itself, Tisdale had worked himself in circles trying to get them out of the mire, and in a bid to get something, anything from a game of football again, that Fleetwood game happened and was probably the straw which broke the camel's back. A week later, he was gone.

Martin came in with little fanfare, stepping into the breach and raising a few eyebrows with it. What was this defender doing taking over as manager?

The players backed Tisdale until the end and still do - he led Dons to promotion after all - but can admit now things had gone past the point of no return. Dons needed something new, and with Martin, it's what they got. The system changed almost immediately. Wins did not come though, with heartbreaking defeats to Bolton and Rotherham both signalling improvements but not quite enough to get the job done.

Morale around Stadium MK was high though. The players could see it was working, and could see the attempts working on the pitch. The fans were beginning to see it too. Although they capitulated in the second half against Rotherham, losing a 2-0 lead to lose 3-2, things were looking up. When it clicked though, it clicked. That win over Oxford United proved to be vital in so many ways.

It would be their third game unbeaten, having won in the Leasing.com Trophy and picked up a draw against Doncaster for Russell Martin's first point in charge, but it was the monkey off the back - their first league win since September. Since then, Dons have lost three in 11 league games, moved 10 points clear of the relegation zone, moved up to 18th position, and currently are on a run of four unbeaten - their longest streak of the season. Teams at the sharp end of League One have left Stadium MK licking their wounds, proving their league position at the wrong end did not really reflect where they could be in the table.

The football is more attacking, more daring, has more cut and thrust to it. No doubt, it's aided by strikers on the field - a luxury Tisdale was not afforded due to injuries at the end of his time - but in all, it's a pleasing game to watch again. Just as they took to Tisdale, the players have taken to Martin as their manager; the transition, by and large, has been fairly seamless in that respect. The fans too are on-board, with a chorus of Herman's Hermits signalling their satisfaction more often than not nowadays.

There are still problems afoot though. Keeping clean sheets, nervous defending, how to play their bold passing football on bobbling winter pitches in League One and their form away from home are all things Martin needs to shore up. However, it is night and day compared to 106 days ago.