Robbie Neilson’s MK Dons will be looking to hit the 50-point mark this weekend at Port Vale – an initial total which the Dons boss has targeted for his side.
The benchmark is viewed by many as a total which all-but guarantees safety in a division – only three sides since the 2006/07 campaign have been relegated having accumulated 50 points, while no team since Torquay United in 2005 has suffered the fate after achieving more than that total.
Neilson’s Dons have the opportunity this Saturday to reach 50 points with seven games to play and the 36-year-old believes the sooner they do so, the better.
“I think we have to get to 50 points,” Neilson said in a recent press conference.
“The key when I arrived was to try and get some stability, get ourselves to the summer and then build ourselves from there.
“We have to get the points on the board to secure ourselves and then we’ll start looking to next season.”
Reaching 50 points would be another accomplishment for Neilson, who has led a turnaround in form since joining the Club from Heart of Midlothian.
In the 18 games since taking charge, Neilson’s side have averaged 1.44 points per game compared to the 1.05 ratio in the 20 matches prior to his appointment – over the course of a campaign, that equates to 18 extra points.
“The points ratio has been decent,” Neilson said. “You’re just not going to go straight from averaging one point a game to averaging three points per game so you’ve got to try and turn it at least a little bit and we’ve done that.
“We have to patient. It has been a difficult season for everyone but the key is to stick together and making sure we remain positive – get to the end of the season and then rebuild.”
Neilson’s Dons have the opportunity this Saturday to reach 50 points with seven games to play and the 36-year-old believes the sooner they do so, the better.
“I think we have to get to 50 points,” Neilson said in a recent press conference.
“The key when I arrived was to try and get some stability, get ourselves to the summer and then build ourselves from there.
“We have to get the points on the board to secure ourselves and then we’ll start looking to next season.”
Reaching 50 points would be another accomplishment for Neilson, who has led a turnaround in form since joining the Club from Heart of Midlothian.
In the 18 games since taking charge, Neilson’s side have averaged 1.44 points per game compared to the 1.05 ratio in the 20 matches prior to his appointment – over the course of a campaign, that equates to 18 extra points.
“The points ratio has been decent,” Neilson said. “You’re just not going to go straight from averaging one point a game to averaging three points per game so you’ve got to try and turn it at least a little bit and we’ve done that.
“We have to patient. It has been a difficult season for everyone but the key is to stick together and making sure we remain positive – get to the end of the season and then rebuild.”
