MARTIN’S DONS ARE NOT DOWN
RUSSELL Martin believes his influence can be felt already, despite losing his first game in charge to Port Vale.
The 33-year-old quit playing to take over from Paul Tisdale on Wednesday but David Worrall’s 20th-minute header meant his tenure started in defeat.
However, Martin hailed the Dons’ spirit and believes results will improve quickly if they maintain a positive attitude.
“Of course we are disappointed to lose in a game I think we have dominated, but I enjoyed it and what I saw from the lads was totally different from last week”, he said.
“We have had three days of work together, and I saw today what we have been working on – a willingness to win the ball back, and to dominate the ball and play out from the back.
“We need to be a bit more patient and calmer around the six-yard box, but I was pleased with what I saw today and it is a good foundation to build on.
“There is loads to be pleased about and lots to work on. I’m not naive and I know there are things we still need to work on, but the players should be proud of themselves today.
“There is loads to be pleased about and lots to work on.”
The Dons went close inside 15 minutes when Alex Gilbey was first to fire goalwards from the edge of the Vale box, forcing keeper Scott Brown into action.
But the visitors took the lead minutes later when James Gibbons’ cross from the right found Worrall unmarked at the Dons back post, and he headed home his second goal in three games.
Worrall turned provider just before the break when he picked out Richie Bennett inside the Dons’ six-yard box, but the frontman couldn’t keep his header down.
The Dons should have levelled through Ben Reeves after 65 minutes when he had time and space inside the Vale box to line up a shot, only to fire well over.
Martin’s side upped the pressure late on and launched balls into the box, but they couldn’t find a way past a determined Vale defence as John Askey’s side progressed to the second round.
Askey was buoyant after seeing Worrall on the scoresheet, saying: “I have spoken to him about scoring more goals and get in better positions – hopefully that will continue because it will make a big difference if he starts to get goals,” he said.
“It was a really well-worked goal, we shifted it from one side to the other, and scored an excellent goal and well deserved.
“We did not know what to expect coming here today, they have just changed their manager and you worry that it would give them a big lift, but once we got into the game we settled down.
“I am really pleased, I thought we played really well in the first-half and should have probably gone in 2-0 up.”