Neilson’s defiant despite a Long day
ROBBIE Neilson firmly believes MK Dons can get out of trouble despite slipping into the bottom four with defeat at local rivals Northampton.
First-half goals from John-Joe O’Toole, his third in three games, and Chris Long were enough to see Northampton Town climb to 18th and leapfrog Neilson’s team, who had Chuks Aneke sent off late on, with Alex Gilbey’s earlier leveller a faint memory.
The under pressure Dons boss isn’t panicking yet but admits they are in a dogfight.
“It’s part of football, it doesn’t matter if you’re at the top, the middle or the bottom, there’s pressure and you have to handle that,” he said. “We have to work hard, do the right things and believe. I believe we can get out of this 100%, we have a good team.
“At times we played some good football but we shot ourselves in the foot with the two goals but we’re in a battle and we’ve got to make sure we stick together as a team and as a group.”
The hosts took the lead when debutant Joe Bunney found space on the left and his low cross was bundled in by O’Toole at the near post, deflecting through Lee Nicholls’ legs.
Their lead didn’t last long as the Dons equalized two minutes later when Osman Sow crossed for Gilbey to side foot home.
The Dons should have completed the turnaround on 29 minutes when Ike Ugbo’s chipped cross was met by Sow whose header was cleared off the line before Callum Brittain’s long range effort was turned behind.
The Cobblers responded and regained the lead on 41 minutes. After a bit of ping-pong in the area the ball fell to Sam Hoskins who squared it to Long who directed the ball into the bottom corner. Northampton took control in the second half although with two minutes to go the Dons sparked into life. George Williams’ had a header pushed away by O’Donnell, then deep in stoppage time Neilson’s side were awarded a free-kick. Aneke was fouled but then proceeded to react aggressively. A handful of players began pushing each other until the referee sent off Aneke for his reaction.
That was the first time that back four was together so I can’t complain,” said Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink. “We scored twice from two crosses, had more chances but I want more and we’ll try to get more and keep that positive feeling.”
“The most important thing was three points. In spells it was brilliant but also in spells there were mistakes.”