Just weeks after the pressure was mounting on Paul Warne, MK Dons have transformed their fortunes, putting together a six-game winning run while seeing their leading marksman earn his first international call-up.
The League One side have been in exceptional form in recent weeks. Four consecutive league victories, part of a six-match winning streak, have seen the Buckinghamshire outfit find the net 21 times, including 20 goals in their last five outings.
It is a remarkable turnaround for a side who, not so long ago, were struggling for consistency.
A Dismal Start
Before their current run, the side had managed just one victory in ten matches. After eight league games, they were sitting 23rd in the table, with six draws and two defeats leaving questions over their early-season performances.
A 5-1 home defeat to Reading proved particularly damaging, with the pressure mounting on Warne following an unacceptable afternoon for the hosts.
Speaking to the club after the match, the manager was quick to apologise to the supporters who had witnessed the disappointing performance.
“A pretty comprehensive defeat. I’d like to apologise to the fans who turned up today; it wasn’t acceptable or what we stand for. It was the biggest defeat since we have been here, and we can’t lose games in the manner that we did today,” admitted a frustrated Warne.
However, two weeks later, a narrow victory over Stevenage proved to be the beginning of something much more encouraging.
And Warne’s side have not looked back. Goals have come thick and fast in Buckinghamshire, with their latest performances providing plenty of reason for optimism.
A Welsh International
The biggest individual beneficiary has not been Warne, but Aaron Collins, whose remarkable goalscoring form has earned him his first-ever international call-up.
The Welsh FA announced their squad for November’s matches against Norway and Portugal on November 4. Following Kieffer Moore’s withdrawal, Collins was added to the squad, rewarding a sensational spell in front of goal.
The striker had scored seven times across three matches, including four goals in a stunning 6-1 victory over Doncaster Rovers.
Collins had to settle for a place on the bench in Oslo, with Harry Wilson and Liverpool youngster Lewis Koumas leading the line as Wales suffered a 3-1 defeat. He will hope to take to the field against Portugal.
Back in Buckinghamshire, the goals continued to flow.
MK Dons had not scored six goals or more in a match since November 2022, against now seventh tier Taunton Town. They have reached that feat three times this season alone.
Warne’s side have scored 16 goals in their last three matches alone, a tally which exceeds the entire season’s output of eight teams in League One, including eighth-placed Bradford City.
Speaking to the media following last Saturday’s victory over Burton Albion, Warne was understandably in a much more positive mood than he had been against Reading.
“We’ve got a really good team and a really good bench. We’ve been good the last three home games and scored plenty of goals, hopefully everyone’s gone home pleased.”
The contrast between these two post-match interviews tells the story of MK Dons’ season better than any statistic.
Warne’s side are beginning to look like a team capable of challenging at the top end of the division. And with Collins enjoying a wonderful spell of form, supporters have been given plenty of reasons to believe.
The early season concerns now feel a distant memory. If this attacking prowess continues, the Dons may be looking further and further up the table.
