RUSS CAN MAKE DONS GREAT – BRITTAIN
VICTORY over Coventry in the Leasing.com Trophy earlier this week yielded Russell Martin’s first win as MK Dons manager – and young full-back Callum Brittain is convinced the right man is at the helm.
The Dons have struggled to adapt to League One after their promotion from the fourth tier last season, sacking boss Paul Tisdale at the start of last month following a run of just one win in 11 league and cup games.
Former Norwich and Scotland defender Martin, 33, was quickly appointed to his first managerial role to steady the ship, hanging up his boots to focus on launching a revamped survival mission.
Rejuvenated
Four consecutive defeats in league and cup to begin his reign meant the 2-0 win over the Sky Blues was a welcome boost, yet Brittain insists the players are already warming to the new player-turned-manager’s methods.
“Russell’s got a very clear idea of how he wants to set his team up and how he wants to play,” the 21-year-old explained.
“He’s come in and wants us to make an effort to play out from the back – he wants us to be braver on the ball and press a lot higher.
“His experience as a player is going to be a massive benefit – he’s got promoted from every league, so that’s going to really help us.
“There’s still a lot of belief among the boys and we’re all completely behind the new manager.”
Brittain has a long-term connection with the Buckinghamshire club, initially joining their academy as an eight-year-old.
After signing professional terms with the Dons, he went on loan to Icelandic side Throttur Reykjavik in 2016 at a time when a first-team opportunity at Stadium MK wasn’t forthcoming.
Upon his return, he forged a way into the starting XI.
“It was a really good move for me that I needed at the time,” said Brittain. “I wasn’t really getting a look-in at MK Dons but I got a lot of game time over in Iceland.
“The experience of living in a foreign country was really helpful. When I came back, I’d improved.
“I just want to be on the pitch and to do that for my boyhood club is very special.”
Character
Brittain has been one of Dons’ key protagonists this campaign, featuring in several positions in a team that has struggled for fluency following promotion last season. They’ve slipped into a dangerous habit of finishing with ten men of late – with a sending off in each of the past four games and remaining without a league win since September’s 3-0 victory over Blackpool ahead of yesterday’s trip to Doncaster.
But Brittain has every faith they will come good.
“Our main issue is that we’re not taking our chances or creating enough opportunities, and we need to be far more ruthless.
“But we have the confidence we can get out of this situation – when I look around the dressing room I believe we’ve definitely got enough to change the way results are going.”