Defender Shaun Cummings says automatic promotion from League 1 is still the Dons' for the taking, as the men from MK prepare for one of the biggest weeks in their season.

Roberto Di Matteo's side host sixth-placed Oldham on Saturday and fourth-placed Millwall on Tuesday as the chase for the Championship reaches fever pitch at stadiummk.

Despite having three games in hand on third-placed Peterborough, four draws in a row have left the Dons with little room for error as they trail Darren Ferguson's in-form team by five points.

But on-loan Chelsea defender Cummings reckons his team have the quality and the big game temperament to outstrip their promotion rivals.

He told mkdons.com: "We shouldn't put that much pressure on ourselves because we're in a good position. We're a few points behind Peterborough but we've still got those three games in hand.

"This month we've got some big games coming up against Oldham, Millwall and Leeds, but I know we're capable of picking up points from those games.

"It's all about patience, if we keep playing the way we know how to play I'm sure it will come. One of the promotion slots is still ours for the taking, it's in our hands.

"If we're not winning the games, we have to make sure we don't lose, and we haven't lost for seven games. As long as we're picking up points, that's the most important thing."

Cummings played a huge part in the Dons maintaining their unbeaten run on Tuesday night, when his incredible goal-line clearance denied Huddersfield's Michael Flynn an injury-time winner.

Many inside stadiummk believed the ball to have crossed the line after Cummings had diverted it onto the post, including most of the Huddersfield side.

But having atoned for an error which allowed the attack to start, Cummings says he did prevent the unthinkable happening.

Shaun in action against Oldham earlier this season.

You might think the 20-year-old full-back would have been pleased with his efforts, but as a consummate professional he was annoyed at putting his team in a dangerous position.

He said: "Honestly, it wasn't in. Maybe, by my body position, their players might have thought it went in, but I know that it didn't cross the line.

"When you make mistakes, especially ones like that where there's nobody else back, you just have to try your hardest to get back in and do something about it. I tried to stop the cross first and then had to protect the goal.

"Did I redeem myself? I'm not sure, I was disappointed to be in that position because I shouldn't have made that mistake. But I hope that, by getting back and recovering, it showed people that I'm passionate about this team and that I want to do well with them."

Saturday's clash with the Latics will be an opportunity for the Dons to put right one of their more disappointing results this season.

Di Matteo's troops missed a host of chances at Boundary Park in September on their way to a 2-0 defeat to John Sheridan's side.

But Cummings says the Dons have come a long way since then.

He said: "Oldham was disappointing earlier in the season, but we were only finding our feet then.

"Now we're at our highest point, so it's a good opportunity for us to show how far we've come."

Tickets for the game are currently on sale from the MK Dons Box Office, with tickets for Under 16s on sale for just £1.

Call the Box Office on 01908 622900.