MATCH REPORT – MK Dons 1-1 Walsall

Another game and another draw.

Normally a point away from home would be considered a good point and especially when we travel to a side like MK Dons however the manner of the performance and more sarcastic applause from our manager left a sour taste in the mouth of many that travelled.

Before the game fans inside the concourse area of the soulless Stadium:MK were left scratching their heads as to why one of our best players so far this season (Nicky Devlin) was ‘rested’ with many suggesting we just let him have his birthday off. As well as Devlin being dropped from the squad we had Flo Cuvelier who hadn’t even made a substitute appearance in the past few weeks miraculously making it straight into the starting XI in place of Oztumer (who scored the weekend) and Kory Roberts being dropped once more so Jon could revert back to 4-4-2, a formation which saw Joe Edwards play on the wing.

The squad was baffling and the first half reflected that. It was chaotic, unbalanced and lacking any creativity or pace. MK could have easily been 3-0 up at the break.

Another set piece and another goal conceded – it has now been twenty games since the Saddlers kept a clean sheet which begs the question what do our defensive coaches work on in training? Chuks Aneke was left unmarked to glance a header past Gillespie to kick start moans and groans from the travelling faithful.

Aneke’s cross towards the end of the first half was somehow nodded over by the dangerous Alex Gibey, it really should have been game over at that point.

However the Saddlers came out for the second half with a purpose and determination to get something from a game they really shouldn’t have and on fifty eight minutes, Tyler Roberts burst into the box and was brought down from behind by Ebanks-Landell and after arguing with Bakayoko for around a minute decided to take the penalty and slotted the ball away.

Roberts then forced Nicholls to make a decent stop as he fired across the keeper.

On eighty six minutes, Whitney took off Tyler Roberts to a chorus of boos and ‘you don’t know what you’re doing’ chants something that had also happened on Saturday.

Lets not hide from the fact that only Oldham and Plymouth have looked as poor as MK did. MK style and play currently matches their soulless club and stadium pretty well, however they were there for the taking and its another two points dropped.

At full time the players were clapped off the pitch for gaining a point but once again Whitney sarcastically clapped the travelling fans which led to even more chants directed towards the manager.

This seems to be a position that Whitney cannot get himself out of, the constant divide between the fans and the staff is growing and with the performances on the pitch nor the results improving then you do get the impression we are in for a very long winter.