MK Dons edge past Accrington Stanley in a game anything but a classic, but what changes has Lindsey made since taking over?

MK Dons continue their good form under new head coach Scott Lindsey as they run out 2-1 winners over Accrington Stanley.

Goals from Alex Gilbey and Joe Tomlinson in either half saw the Dons collect all three points, despite a rally from Stanley that saw Joshua Woods snatch a consolation.

The Dons move up to 12^th in the league and Accrington sit struggling in 21^st.

Embed from Getty Images

MK Dons were quick off the mark to breach the visitor’s defences, scoring inside 40 seconds through Alex Gilbey. It was a clinical start, and the hosts did not relent, controlling the opening fifteen minutes and moving the ball with ease.

It took until the 20^th minute for Stanley to test Tom McGill in the MK Dons goal, forcing the keeper to smartly turn behind a long-range attempt by Shaun Whalley for a corner.

Accrington, under manager John Doolan, tried to pass the ball through the Dons ranks, however they rarely managed to muster any sustained pressure to worry the Dons throughout.

It took until the hour mark for the next big moment of the game, as Joe Tomlinson curled home from 25 yards to double the lead.

It was a finish deserving of higher divisions and the only moment of real quality in an otherwise dismal contest.

Accrington did get a goal entering the final quarter courtesy of Joshua Woods capitalising on a sharp counter attack, but, the game continued as a bitty affair thereafter and fans will not be racing to watch the highlights in a hurry.

Embed from Getty Images

When the final ball is kicked at the end of the season, performances and styles count for nothing, the points tally does.

It is worth saying though that in the modern-day football, no matter your place in the football pyramid, if you do not try and play with entertainment and style, you will not have a job.

Since joining the Dons at the end of September and yet to have a full month at the helm, Scott Lindsey is beginning to leave a footprint on the Stadium MK surface.

A side built around defensive solidity, combined with attacking at pace with width.

It is clear that one of the first things Lindsey chose to focus his efforts on was adding more of an attacking element to the defensive setup.

Whilst still continuing with the 3-4-2-1 formation that was favoured by the previous incumbent, Mike Williamson, the clear change has been the speed to progress up the field.

Under Williamson the statistics were there for all to see, it took on average 11.6 seconds for the ball to reach the halfway line from a goal kick. Since taking over, that has dropped to 4.4 seconds.

Whilst there still is that desire to play out from the back and build up moves, there is more urgency to advance the play.

Embed from Getty Images

It is also easy to see that Lindsey is trying to get the most of one of his former midfield starlets at Crawley Town and now his player again, Liam Kelly.

The diminutive creative midfielder had flattered to deceive in his opening seven games since joining, but in his last five since Lindsey’s arrival have seen a marked improvement.

Playing slightly deeper to the role he operated at promoted Crawley last year, he is entrusted in moving the play into the advanced positions on the pitch.

His stats are improving also as a result to the visual improvement too, scoring his first goal of the season against Morecambe, and making more passes into the final third, in and around the opposition defence.

Embed from Getty Images

For Lindsey to continue to make the improvements count, he will need to hope the recent acquisition of striker Scott Hogan can hit the ground running.

The veteran forward has scored his first goal, also against Morecambe.

What he is trying to do is fill the boots of last seasons top scorer Max Dean, who despite missing a number of matches through injury, excelled returning 17 goals to earn a summer move to KAA Gent in the Belgian Pro League.

His replacements in the forward ranks in the squad this campaign are; Callum Hendry, Ellis Harrison, Matt Dennis, loanee Sonny Finch, and the aforementioned Hogan.

Between the five of them, they mustered 18 goals, one less than Dean.

Embed from Getty Images