MASTER DOWNS THE APPRENTICE
IT WAS a bittersweet afternoon for Karl Robinson as he watched his Charlton side record their first league win in three games to reclaim a place in the top six, but consigned his former academy coach, turned rookie manager, to a fifth straight league defeat.
MK Dons’ new boss Dan Micciche worked under Robinson during his seven years in Milton Keynes, as part of their their academy set-up famed for producing Spurs and England star Dele Alli.
But it’s not been an easy introduction for the 38-year-old who has lost all five of his opening games in charge with his side now six points adrift of safety.
Ahmed Kashi and Josh Magennis both found the net for the visitors at Stadium MK while Kieran Agard netted a consolation for MK, but Robinson is adamant his former academy coach Micciche is the right man for the job.
“He’s one of the best coaches I’ve worked with, but this is a different ball game obviously,” said Robinson.
“I wish him all the luck in the world and I still speak to him often, whatever he needs I’ll be there to support him.
“I hope they survive, I really do. I didn’t work hard here for seven years to see them relegated – that’s not the type of person I am.
“I don’t want them to fall away like they are and I wish them luck from now on.”
The Addicks took a deserved lead after just ten minutes when MK’s Conor McGrandles was dispossessed on the edge of his own penalty area, before Kashi took one touch and fired a powerful right-footed drive past keeper Lee Nicholls for his second goal of the season.
The visitors almost added a second when Patrick Bauer’s powerful header flew inches wide of the MK goal just before the break, and Joe Aribo’s strike cannoned off the post moments into the second period.
Robinson’s men doubled their lead on the hour after Magennis nodded home his eighth Addicks goal of the season from Jake Forster-Caskey’s cross.
And despite MK pulling one back through Agard just two minutes later from Robbie Muirhead’s corner, it wasn’t enough for MK who face a relegation six-pointer away at Rochdale on Tuesday.
“This is my club and I have so much respect for the chairman – I believe I am the right man for the job,” said Micciche.
“We have to try and find a formula to find enough points to survive this season and re-build for next season.
“Everybody has to be positive and stick together.
“I can understand the fan’s frustration because this club shouldn’t be in League One. “I appreciate their support and we have 14 cup finals coming up so we all have to stick together.” MK DONS: (3-5-2): Nicholls 5, Williams 5, Ward 5, Lewington 6, Brittain 7, McGrandles 5 (Upson 45 5), Cisse 5 (Nesbitt 61 5), Muirhead 5 (Rasulo 86 N/A), Tymon 7, Agard 6, Ugbo 7 Subs not used: Sietsma, Wootton, Jackson, Thomas-Asante CHARLTON: (4-2-3-1): Amos 8, Solly 7, Konsa 7, Bauer 8 (Pearce 66 6), Dasilva 7, ForsterCaskey 7, Kashi 8, Reeves 7 (Marshall 74 6), Aribo 7, Kaikai 7 (Lennon 71 5), Magennis 8 Subs not used: Phillips, Jackson, Ajose, Zyro