Senior pros kept Dons ticking against Southampton

Though much of the focus was on the products of MK Dons' academy on Wednesday night, Russell Martin said his senior players played a key role against Southampton U21s.

Such has been the story for most of their games this season, Dons dominated possession against the young Saints on a comfortable night from the home side. Ultimately, their defeat would source from two goalkeeping errors from Laurie Walker as Southampton left 2-1 winners, with Matthew Sorinola capitalising on a similar keeping mistake at the other end.

Carlton Morris, Baily Cargill and David Kasumu had played 120 minutes against Eastleigh on Sunday, with Morris and Cargill going the full distance at Stadium MK as well.

Even though the game was a dead-rubber, with Dons' progress into the next round already assured, Martin said it was essential that his senior players helped guide the youngsters through the game.

With these games, it's hard for the older pros, you can see it as a lose-lose. You're expected to win, you're out there while others are being rested, but it's never a punishment to play a first team game and none of them treat it like that.

"We were playing against a young, aggressive team who pressed like crazy.

"Carlton kept going and organising to the end, as did Baily. Their attitudes were fantastic. Scotty and Louis did 45 minutes and they were the same. David was our best player before he came off, and Lasse played a couple of positions for us as well.

"And that's not to mention John Freeman, who is still early on his journey, and talks like a senior pro already!"