Franchise scorefred sponsored by 2 down 6 to go

[Costastag]

We were never really at it last night ,mk went through us at will and it could have been worse just got to put it right on saturday now onwards and upwards

[victor A block]

Really hard to tell whether they were so much better because they actually are, or whether we really could have done more.

As mentioned our forward line was poor all night. Maybe too many changes from Saturday too. I thought from my angle Pym could maybe have done better with the 2nd. Hard to pick a MOM to be honest.

Williams must start at RB. Bowery has served us well this season but now is the time to pick your best players for the position.

We've not lost points, just the game in hand. Need to push on Saturday.

[adamstag]

The thing is don’t forget is that we still do have that game in hand on MK, we’re 5 clear of them with a better GD.

Saw last night (rightly or wrongly) as a bit of a free hit, no damage done though not ideal.

Swindon is the perfect chance to put it right and i’m sure nigel and the boys will be right on it.

[Conker]

It was just a bad day at the office, lots of poor performances and I think Clough poor selection in the midfield gave them control of the game, just got it all uncharacteristically wrong against a side like that.

We basically let them control the middle with that selection which is very frustrating because we had the players on the bench of rectify that - I’m surprised changes did not happen at half time.

Lewis, Akins, Quinn, Swan on top of my head were really not at the races.

[Gruff]

I didn't think Swan or Reed were playing for the first 15 minutes, they seemed to be completely anonymous. You could see Akins chasing everything and closing down, but Swan seemed like a passenger. Think Nicholls deserves a start on Saturday.
I think the defensive coach needs a bit of a kick. We have conceded 2 goals in a few games where a right-footed player, on the left hand side of the pitch has cut inside our defenders and scored.. show them the line, force them to try and cross, don't let them cut inside you near the edge of the 18 yard box... it's basics (isn't it?).
Was very impressed with MK, there movement, passing and speed exposed some of the frailties that the squad has, so if we do get promotion we should accept that we may need some significant investment just to stay there. Port Vale are struggling in League 1 and they did a similar thing to us that MK did last night.
We move on and can hopefully bounce back. It's a good reality check for fans and players that this is not going to be a simple case of turning up to get promotion, there will be bumps along the way, but other clubs will also have these bumps... so stick with it. We didn't become a bad team overnight.

[Martin Shaw]

I thought from my angle Pym could maybe have done better with the 2nd.

It took quite a big deflection, he had no chance in my opinion.

[wink68]

Was right behind it. Shot straight at Pym, took a nick off the defender into the bottom corner. No chance for Pym

[wink68]

MK looked superb in midfield, brave with passing and more important wanting to receive it in tight areas. It's the way we try and play which we've managed to do plenty of times this season but we seemed a bit scared to try it last night and went longer a lot of the time. First time we've lost the midfield all season. We have put ourselves in a position where we can afford this and maybe a couple more defeats. We will win enough games for top three. Can't see us being as open away to MK. Nigel will pack the midfield and I would even be tempted th man mark Gilbey out of the game.

[Sneag]

Did anyone notice Flint start rubbing his hamstring at one point last night?

[Spiritater]

Thought it was a game we could ( given a bit of luck) have come away with a point. We were wasteful and unlucky in equal measure in front of goal last night. MK were good but beatable too and both their goals came from lucky instances. It's not as though Pym had a great deal to do for all their possession.
I think we will beat them at their ground.

[oldweststander]

MK are certainly the best side to visit the One Call this season. Now we know the type of quality we are likely to face regularly should we get promoted, that means a few more quality players will need to be added.

Akins was at his frustrating worst tonight, he poor ball control ruined very promising situation and both Swan and Nichols added nothing to the game. If it were not for DKD we would have looked toothless.

From the kick off our midfield was generally short, of pace, quality and passing ability. We had no luck in the box due to MK's staunch defending, credit to them for that.

Over all, maybe, just maybe, we deserved a draw.

On to the next challenge with hopefully a stronger midfield and Williams back.

[MTFCMusings]

Did anyone notice Flint start rubbing his hamstring at one point last night?

Not sure if it was his hamstring but Clough was definitely asking him if he was ok to continue to which he signalled he was. He had a poor evening, he had to cover a lot more ground than usual, and gave the ball away a lot. I also thought he should have scored with a header in the first half.

[part time pete]

Did anyone notice Flint start rubbing his hamstring at one point last night?

Yes

[PEAR CIDER]

can we stop playing bowery in defence please, we never look as comfortable with him playing there and were much better when williams or johnson were there

He was poor tonight, but the stats clearly don't back up that view over the course of the season.

I thought Bowery was our best player tonight. Opinions hey

Should have played Williams at the back from the start... selection hiccup.!

every time we lose its bowerys fault. it cracks me up. Flint was woeful tonight, should have started with Cargil at cb with Macca lb. Selection hiccup

[cassellswasmagic]

The biggest thing for me last night had nothing to do with individual performances. Most of our lads seemed off it. It was the quick pressing game of MK. So impressive.

[georgefostersbeard]

Did anyone notice Flint start rubbing his hamstring at one point last night?

Yes

He challenged their left back and he hyperextended his leg kicking the ball right on the end of his toes.
A mere mortal would have been in agony, but he stretched it off and continued

[MTFCMusings]

The positive is, despite the struggle we had to sustain any sort of possession or control in the game, we will still created more than enough chances to score at least 2 goals.

[five to three]

We lost it in midfield to the best team I have seen at Field Mill for some time. That said we were not that bad and in many ways it was an even game. Two very good sides. Not worried about this one but concerned that there seems to be five serious contenders for the top three spaces: MK, Wrexham, Stockport, Crewe and ourselves.

[georgefostersbeard]

We lost it in midfield to the best team I have seen at Field Mill for some time. That said we were not that bad and in many ways it was an even game. Two very good sides. Not worried about this one but concerned that there seems to be five serious contenders for the top three spaces: MK, Wrexham, Stockport, Crewe and ourselves.

I agree with this and, bluntly, had one of the shots gone in during the harum scarum two minutes with 5 shots we would be over the moon with a snatched point

[ST4GS]

The positive is, despite the struggle we had to sustain any sort of possession or control in the game, we will still created more than enough chances to score at least 2 goals.

Looking at the stats provided by Fotmob and comparing against the home game v Harrogate there is hardly any difference apart from big chances created. In fact we created a season high 8 big chances and wasted 7. Not many teams create more than three or four big chances.

Expected goals: MTFC 2.60 v MKD 0.89 - Difference 1.71 - Should be a COMFORTABLE WIN
Total Shots: MTFC 23 v MKD 17
Big Chances: MTFC 8 (EIGHT) v MKD 0
Big Chances Missed: MTFC 7 v MKD 0

Expected goals: MTFC 2.96 v HARROGATE 1.57 - Difference 1.29 - Should be a MARGINAL WIN
Total Shots: MTFC 23 v HARROGATE 7
Big Chances: MTFC 5 v HARROGATE 3
Big Chances Missed: MTFC 0 v HARROGATE 1

It did not seem to me that we were unlucky last night or created / wasted many chances. Just goes to show xGoals and stats sometimes can mislead.

[MTFCMusings]

The positive is, despite the struggle we had to sustain any sort of possession or control in the game, we will still created more than enough chances to score at least 2 goals.

Looking at the stats provided by Fotmob and comparing against the home game v Harrogate there is hardly any difference apart from big chances created. In fact we created a season high 8 big chances and wasted 7. Not many teams create more than three or four big chances.

Expected goals: MTFC 2.60 v MKD 0.89 - Difference 1.71 - Should be a COMFORTABLE WIN
Total Shots: MTFC 23 v MKD 17
Big Chances: MTFC 8 (EIGHT) v MKD 0
Big Chances Missed: MTFC 7 v MKD 0

Expected goals: MTFC 2.96 v HARROGATE 1.57 - Difference 1.29 - Should be a MARGINAL WIN
Total Shots: MTFC 23 v HARROGATE 7
Big Chances: MTFC 5 v HARROGATE 3
Big Chances Missed: MTFC 0 v HARROGATE 1

It did not seem to me that we were unlucky last night or created / wasted many chances. Just goes to show xGoals and stats sometimes can mislead.

A bit misleading as 1.6 of our xG last night were the 3 shots from the penalty, and then another 0.8 for the 4 shots in the goalmouth scramble. I think they must still be updating it as the individual tallies do not tally with the overall value just yet.

[wink68]

The positive is, despite the struggle we had to sustain any sort of possession or control in the game, we will still created more than enough chances to score at least 2 goals.

Looking at the stats provided by Fotmob and comparing against the home game v Harrogate there is hardly any difference apart from big chances created. In fact we created a season high 8 big chances and wasted 7. Not many teams create more than three or four big chances.

Expected goals: MTFC 2.60 v MKD 0.89 - Difference 1.71 - Should be a COMFORTABLE WIN
Total Shots: MTFC 23 v MKD 17
Big Chances: MTFC 8 (EIGHT) v MKD 0
Big Chances Missed: MTFC 7 v MKD 0

Expected goals: MTFC 2.96 v HARROGATE 1.57 - Difference 1.29 - Should be a MARGINAL WIN
Total Shots: MTFC 23 v HARROGATE 7
Big Chances: MTFC 5 v HARROGATE 3
Big Chances Missed: MTFC 0 v HARROGATE 1

It did not seem to me that we were unlucky last night or created / wasted many chances. Just goes to show xGoals and stats sometimes can mislead.

Just shows what a load od twaddle these stats are when MK had no big chances and scored two goals.

[MTFCMusings]

The positive is, despite the struggle we had to sustain any sort of possession or control in the game, we will still created more than enough chances to score at least 2 goals.

Looking at the stats provided by Fotmob and comparing against the home game v Harrogate there is hardly any difference apart from big chances created. In fact we created a season high 8 big chances and wasted 7. Not many teams create more than three or four big chances.

Expected goals: MTFC 2.60 v MKD 0.89 - Difference 1.71 - Should be a COMFORTABLE WIN
Total Shots: MTFC 23 v MKD 17
Big Chances: MTFC 8 (EIGHT) v MKD 0
Big Chances Missed: MTFC 7 v MKD 0

Expected goals: MTFC 2.96 v HARROGATE 1.57 - Difference 1.29 - Should be a MARGINAL WIN
Total Shots: MTFC 23 v HARROGATE 7
Big Chances: MTFC 5 v HARROGATE 3
Big Chances Missed: MTFC 0 v HARROGATE 1

It did not seem to me that we were unlucky last night or created / wasted many chances. Just goes to show xGoals and stats sometimes can mislead.

Just shows what a load od twaddle these stats are when MK had no big chances and scored two goals.

Both from 20 yards out.

[yellowstagsfan]

Did anyone notice Flint start rubbing his hamstring at one point last night?

Also did his party piece on the halfway line for the penalty

[Beyond The Pale]

We seem to have an issue beating teams in the league with 'DON' in their name this season... another one to deal with on Saturday.

A strange observation, I know, but very true!