MK Dons boss on being rewarded for sticking to principles ahead of Doncaster Rovers clash

As they prepare to welcome Rovers on Saturday, the Dons are on a three match winning run after taking just a single point from their previous five matches.

The spurt of form has left them five points off the play-off places - though they are among the sides to have played the most games in the division.

Martin is steadfast in his faith in the possession-based style of play he has implemented at stadium:mk since taking charge in November 2019.

During times of patchy form, the 35-year-old has faced calls to change up his approach but has held firm and believes things have clicked into place over the last fortnight.

"After a really tough run, we're back to being 'us' more than ever," he told the Milton Keynes Citizen. "That takes a lot of courage.

"We didn't see that bad run coming. I don't know how it happened really, the players should be really disappointed.

If you look at the way we started games, like at Gillingham, we shouldn't have lost as many games. But we did, it happened and that's why we're still in a transition.

"We've had a lot of change this year, but it would have been really easy, after being on a tough run, with a young group, playing how we do with what gets thrown at us by some asking whether we're up to it, to change.

“Well now we're proving we're up to it.

"It makes me incredibly grateful and it's bearing fruit on the pitch."

Martin has been pleased with the form of ex-Chelsea starlet Josh McEachran who joined the club last month. The midfielder Rovers had cast their eye over during the January window.

"We've got a guy who is coming back from a long-term injury, hasn't played a lot of football and is playing more and more," Martin said.

"Josh going off had a big impact on us because of the amount of control he gave us and the performance he gave us.

"We've been so pleased with him. He'll only get fitter and stronger."

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