Williamson urges Dons players to enjoy finale

MK DONS boss Mike Williamson has told his players to ‘enjoy’ the drama as his side enter the climax of the season with hopes of an automatic promotion spot.

The Dons’ promotion hopes were handed a huge boost as goals in each half from Max Dean and Alex Gilbey sealed a win at bottom-of-thetable Forest Green.

Victory sees Williamson’s side jump into third in the table with just three games of the season to go.

He said: “The lads deserve a lot of credit because it was a real hard battle for 95 minutes and we had to show all sides of our character.

“We’re going to enjoy ourselves, that’s the only way to go about things. When I came in we could see what the remaining games were and the state of play, and so I would have snapped your hands off to be where we are now.”

Goalscorers Gilbey and Dean have been key to the Dons’ promotion ambitions, but Williamson felt it was a collective effort: “They’re huge characters, big personalities, and a lot of quality for us on the pitch. But for me, the emphasis is on growth, and I feel like it’s a real collective effort.”

Struggling Rovers pressed the self-destruct button five minutes before the break. Dom Thompson inexplicably surrendered the ball to Dean, who finished with aplomb beyond Vicente Reyes.

A scuffle ensued as both teams entered the tunnel at the break, but it was the promotion-chasing Dons who came out punching a minute after the restart – Norwich City loanee Reyes’ gloving a Gilbey strike from the edge of the box.

And it was Gilbey who grabbed a second for the Dons as Leeds United loanee Lewis Bate cut Rovers open in the 50th minute for Kyran Lofthouse to pick out Gilbey who made no mistake.

Rovers remain rooted to the foot of the table – three points adrift of safety with four games to play, but defiant Forest Green boss Steve Cotterill felt his side were right in the mix throughout the game: “In the first half, up until the goal I thought we might have had the better chances.

“I’m disappointed with the result and the manner of the goals, but. I’m not disappointed with their performance.”

The Dons now face a crunch promotion clash with rivals Mansfield next week who dropped to fourth in the table.

Their final two games are a trip to Harrogate before hosting Sutton United on the last day.