Dons boss Martin thrilled with triumph over Black Cats

MK Dons manager Russell Martin was thrilled with his players after their 2-1 win at Sunderland.

The victory was the Dons’ first away win in 14 months, but Martin was delighted with the attitude of his side after they fell behind to Max Power’s opener.

Cameron Jerome levelled soon after, before Scott Fraser’s penalty earned them the victory, with keeper Andrew Fisher making some important saves late on.

But incredibly, Martin felt it was one of his side’s poorest performances with the ball – although he was full of praise for their work without it

“I feel so proud of everyone involved today,” he said. “It’s a bit of an affirmation that the culture we’re trying to bring in is working.

“In the second half, on the ball it was one of the worst performances we’ve had, but off it the best, for sure.

“Incredible attention to detail, aggression, intensity to protect what we had. I just want to thank the players, the staff and the players who weren’t on the pitch, they guys who couldn’t be here, because they all play their part.

“I’m relieved that we’ve won away from home and we don’t have to answer that question any more, and I’m delighted we’ve done it at a place which is extremely hard to come, where they’ve got a brilliant home record and they’ll be right up there.

“It’s shown today we can compete with anyone on our day, and the players need to believe that.

“If any of them needed convincing of that then today is that day.”

In what was a lively start the game, both sides had good chances before Power smashed a shot home from the edge of the box to open the scoring.

But Jerome was able to get on the end of a free-kick to level, and when Power was adjudged to have fouled Fraser, the same player picked himself up to score from the spot.

Fisher then denied Denver Hume twice, while Will Grigg was unable to get a touch on Lynden Gooch’s cross from close range.

“To go 1-0 down here that early on was frustrating, but to then bounce back that quickly and to show the character and intensity after a long run of games just makes me so proud of the players,” added Martin.

“We haven’t always got what we deserved but today we did.

“We gave Andrew Fisher a chance to make those saves because they’re not shooting from six yards out, they’re not tapping it in.”

Sunderland head to Doncaster next weekend looking to bounce back from three consecutive defeats in all competitions.