The Dons cruised past Crewe Alexandra in Cheshire on Saturday afternoon. Goals from defenders Curtis Nelson and Marvin Ekpiteta had MK two to the good at the break. Captain Alex Gilbey made sure of the three points with a powerful strike, putting the Dons in a comfortable position. Despite a late push from the home side, Paul Warne’s team ran out 3-1 winners.
Centre-backs Curtis Nelson and Marvin Ekpiteta both headed home from inside the box in the win over Crewe. These two getting involved in attacking play has become a trend this season, with the pair managing 12 goal involvements between them.
Both these players are hugely impactful in their own box, both aerially and physically dominant. Having the ability to repurpose these defensive skills and attack balls in the opposition box makes both players invaluable assets to MK Dons.
First joining the Dons in 2017, Gilbey has now made 243 appearances for the club, scoring 45 goals. He has been a top performer for the club during every season he has featured for them. Gilbey shows an incredible amount of passion for MK Dons, matched with his fight, he was already a fan favourite during his first spell at the club.
The captain showed this passion after his goal at the weekend, sprinting towards the travelling supporters whilst screaming in jubilation. As well as scoring, Gilbey was everywhere during the game, not giving up on anything and chasing every loose ball. Very few players have ever shown the desire for the club that Gilbey has and he will surely go down as a club legend when his time at the Dons comes to an end.
MK Dons dominated the game against a solid Crewe side, ending any hope of the playoffs for the Railwaymen. This was a huge win for MK Dons, paired with their 2-1 victory over leaders Bromley a week before, the Dons are well on their way to League One.
With only one win in five before this, there may have been some nerves amongst the team and the fans but this fantastic performance will have instantly resolved any worry. With two games to go, the Dons only need one more point to secure automatic promotion.
They can achieve it this weekend when they face relegation threatened Tranmere Rovers at Stadium MK. Whilst it would be naïve to assume the Dons had already done it, MK fans should be confident the team can get a result here, or on the final day away to Fleetwood Town. In addition, the title race looks to go down to the final day with the Dons only two points behind leaders Bromley.
