Gilbey guides the Dons to glory as MK get first win at the third time of asking

Alex Gilbey put in a true captain’s display as Milton Keynes Dons finally got their first points of the season, winning comfortably 3-0 at home to Carlisle United.

Goals from Callum Hendry, Gilbey, and Ellis Harrison gave the Dons the spoils.

Both Hendry and Gilbey fired home from inside the six-yard box to cap off glorious moves before half time, with Harrison poking into the net in stoppage time as the rout was completed.

On a day that saw a mix of deluges and bright sunshine, the Dons flourished on a slick surface, able to zip the ball quickly and with real purpose around the pitch, carving holes and spaces in the visitor’s defence.

Embed from Getty Images

The beating heart of the Dons forward momentum was their vice-captain, Alex Gilbey.

The midfielder showed his talents as he helped the team score thrice, playing a key role in the first and third goals, as well as providing the finishing touch to an excellent passing move as he scored the second.

The Dons were ruthless in the manner they tore the Carlisle formation to shreds.

Dean Lewington, the Dons captain and stalwart who, at the age of 38, picked up the prestigious PFA Merit award recently, finds himself falling down the centre back pecking order and rarely starting, so Gilbey has taken on the mantle in two of the three outings in Sky Bet League Two so far this season.

Embed from Getty Images

With or without the armband, Gilbey is the epitome of what MK Dons, under the stewardship of Mike Williamson are trying to play and achieve, namely a high-intensive, unrelenting pressure of the opposition and dominance of the football for the full 90 minutes.

For Saturday’s match against Carlisle, Gilbey’s display was arguably the apotheosis of his second stint at the Buckinghamshire outfit.

Providing the creative spark in the midfield, dictating the tempo at which the play moved around the pitch, breaking between the lines and knowing exactly when to bring the striker, Callum Hendry, into the build up play.

In a possession-based setup involving fast and fluid movement between the opposition formational lines, the six-foot-tall midfielder could not look more at home.

With 60 touches of the ball and 37 completed passes in the opposition half, combined with covering 10.4km throughout the 90 minutes, demonstrated his ability to not only drive the team up and down the field, but also control the ball and utilise it when attacking in the final third.

It is fair to say that wherever Gilbey has played in his career in recent seasons, he has become a fan’s favourite.

Apart from a troubled two-season spell at Charlton Athletic, where the club and supporters were in a prolonged period of disconnect after multiple ownership changes, which all turned sour, the 29-year old’s style of play has earned him real adoration.

Embed from Getty Images

Having enjoyed promotional campaigns at the Dons in 2018/19 and Stevenage in 2022/23, he has always tried to carry the impetus on his back and dictate the pace of play.

During the season just finished where the Dons narrowly missed out on promotion, finishing fourth before crumbling in the play offs, Gilbey achieved his best Goal/Assists figures to date, finishing with 23, 13 of these coming as goals.

It is fair to say that he has carried on his form, scoring twice in the opening three league games of the season.

It speaks for itself that he has found himself wearing the armband at three of his last four spells at each club, Milton Keynes twice and Stevenage placed between.

Aside from just being a stereotypical box-to-box midfielder, his adaptability is a key component to his performances, able to maraud around the field, coming from the left- or right-hand flank to overload the central regions when required.

Having such a skillset that offers versatility is one of the many reasons why he adheres into so many formations and managerial styles.

Embed from Getty Images

It is to no surprise that teams who wish to get themselves out of League Two or stave off relegation from League One clamour for his signature.

It is understandable why in the dying embers of the Summer Transfer window, there is currently speculation as to whether a side who believe they stand a chance at progression up the league-pyramid or remaining in their position can prize him out of the Dons’ clasps.

There has already been rumoured interest, but it will prove to be an incredibly tough ask and a high fee to see him depart Stadium MK.

In the final days of Transfer windows, anything can happen. No matter how unlikely, never say never.