MARTIN ENJOYS HIS TIGERS FEAT
RUSSELL Martin expressed deep pride after his MK Dons side maintained their promising run of form with victory at second-placed Hull.
Scott Fraser’s 80th-minute penalty – awarded by referee Declan Bourne for a handball after Matt O’Riley’s fierce hit – was the defining moment of a tight game that further disrupted City’s push for promotion.
Martin said: “It was a performance that had a bit of everything – real courage, real conviction and real composure.
“It’s not lost on us how much bravery that takes, coming to a team that are second in the league.
“We limited them to very little, chances-wise, and looked dangerous all afternoon.
“I thought we were in control for most of the game and I said that to them at half-time.
“They looked ready and really prepared to show how good they can be. I’m so proud of the players. As a performance, it was outstanding.”
Hull have now failed to score in their last three league games, with Martin’s enterprising side the latest team to cash in.
MK Dons played with adventure from the outset and created the best chance of the first half when Matt Ingram brilliantly kept out Will Grigg’s rising half-volley at the far post.
Hull wasted a good chance before that when Keane Lewis-Potter’s first touch let him down when through on goal. Mallik Wilks should also have done better with a wayward strike over the crossbar after 24 minutes.
MK Dons goalkeeper Angood drew Fisher later needed to be alert to tip over Greg Docherty’s goal-bound drive on the hour.
The visitors understandably became more conservative once Fraser scored, though Hull should have equalised late on when centre-back Jacob Greaves headed over from inside the sixyard box.
Hull are still in the automatic promotion places, but they have played more games than their nearest rivals and have won only once in five
league games. Head coach Grant McCann said: “In any season you’re going to have blips in form.
“Our performances have been good, but I’d take a rubbish performance and a 1-0 win at the moment. I’d be more concerned if we weren’t creating opportunities, but we need to find that killer instinct again.
“I think we’re going through a spell where we are snatching at chances – we just don’t seem to be finding the back of the net at the minute.
“The things we’ve been
at this season, we’ve lacked in the last four or five games. We’ve got to find our mojo back.
“We’ve just got to find a way and keep the boys’ spirits high. Hopefully it will drop for us in the next game. We need to start taking the chances we are creating.”