Top-10 finish would silence Dons' critics

Finishing in the top-10 would silence a lot of MK Dons' early season doubters according to Russell Martin ahead of the final game of the season on Sunday.

After the sales of Rhys Healey, Alex Gilbey and Callum Brittain early in the campaign, few would have predicted Dons would be on the brink of a top-half finish in League One. A win on Sunday over already relegated Rochdale could see them jump Ipswich Town into ninth spot if they can better the Tractor Boys' result at home to Fleetwood Town.

Taking on a Rochdale side playing their final game in League One, it could be argued there is little riding on the finish come 2pm on Sunday. But Martin says after many predicted a lowly finish early on, a top-half finish would be vindication.

"We were written off by a lot of people when we sold a few players last summer and it would be nice for them to finish in the top half," he said. "Hopefully we'll finish in the top 10, it would be an incredible achievement after the start we had.

"Never take any game for granted at this level - you never know if it will be your last and you never want to look back and think you floated through a game. There are millions of people who would swap positions on Sunday at 12 o'clock just to play one game in the Football League. To take any game for granted would be ridiculous for any of these players.

"They've set their own targets, they're close to achieving it, they set it high. Hopefully we can finish where we are now or the position above. And they deserve that after such a tough period for the club."