Tranmere Rovers to face MK Dons goal machine led by Merseysider Karl Robinson

Dec 7 2011 by Nick Hilton, Liverpool Echo

TRANMERE must find a way to stifle the prolific MK Dons goalscoring machine this weekend and manager Les Parry admits: “It is going to be difficult.”

The Dons return to League One action at Prenton Park after reaching the landmark of 60 league and cup goals – in just 25 games – with a 3-1 FA Cup success at Barnet last Saturday.

The Dons’ Merseyside born manager Karl Robinson said: “We’ve got 60 Šgoals in all competitions and we’re only in December. That’s a phenomenal statistic. We’ve had six straight wins and we aim to make sure we keep that up.”

MK Dons reward for FA Cup progress is a third round tie against Premier League newcomers Queens Park Rangers. But Robinson admits the FA Cup is second in his priorities behind taking the Dons into the Championship after missing out in the League One play-offs at the end of last season.

He said: “The FA Cup is secondary realistically for us. But if we keep winning games it adds value to the club. When we get it right as a team we are as good as anybody. If you try to bully us we’ve got an edge to us.”

The Dons six game winning run has yielded 23 goals. “Their record is pretty impressive at the moment,” Parry said. “Karl got manager of the month in August and then they had a sticky patch in September or October. Since then MK Dons have been flying. I think in every game through November they scored only three goals. Teams have scored three goals against them and still been beaten.

“We’ve got to try and stop them scoring on Saturday. That is number one.

“They play more football than anyone else in our division. They moved the ball better than anyone else in our division and that’s Karl’s philosophy. He just wants to get the ball down and pass. It is difficult to stop because the movement is so good.”