DELE THE PICK AS THE DONS RUN RIOT
KARL Robinson couldn’t get enough of 18-year-old sensation Dele Alli as he bagged his first professional hat-trick in a dominant MK Dons display against Crewe.
Alli’s three goals helped earn the Dons maximum points against Crewe to cap off a memorable week for the teenager, who was awarded the Football League’s Young Player of the Month award for August.
The home side did have to recover from an early set-back though as Kyle McFadzean headed into his own net to gift the visitors an instant leveller.
But Will Grigg netted to get them back on track before Benik Afobe and Ben Reeves added to Alli’s strikes.
However, Robinson warned Alli to keep his feet on the ground if he wants to play at the highest level.
“He handles pressure like it’s just a walk in the park for him. If he wants to play at the highest level then he needs to be able to keep doing that,” he said.
“I don’t even have to talk about him, I just have to support him, help him and keep him happy.
“I think in every game this season he has either scored or created a goal – I’ll never find another Dele Alli – he plays football like he’s running around the school playground.
“The league table looks wonderful for seven days now, and it’ll be nice to look at the table as it gives you the motivation to move onto the next game – I’m proud of them and they certainly got it right.”
The hosts struck first inside three minutes when Darren Potter reacted quickest to neatly play through Alli, who slotted home from close range.
Matt Tootle smashed in a hopeful cross moments later, and defender McFadzean attempted to coolly head the ball back to keeper David Martin, only for the ball to despairingly loop over him.
However, a Dean Bowditch corner caused chaos amongst a Crewe defence that has already shipped 15 league goals this season and Grigg poked his side in front despite heroic efforts from Crewe on the goal line.
Alli headed a third and his second to add to his side’s lead from Ben Reeves’ cross after the restart. Afobe is impressing the MK faithful on loan from Arsenal, and he raced onto a long ball from Alli to smash his side into an increasingly comfortable lead.
Alli completed his hat-trick after Tom Hitchcock’s clever back-heel, composing himself and drilling a left-footed blockbuster into the back of the net.
Reeves rounded off a remarkable display and Crewe boss Steve Davis said: “We just didn’t play and there are absolutely no excuses for that.
“We were so second best it was frightening at times.We didn’t have one player out there that really did anything, and if you’ve got nobody anywhere near the levels they should be then you’ve got problems.
“I can make excuses but I’m not going to make any for that.
“It’ll be a really long season for us if we keep playing like that – we got absolutely battered.”