Robbie Neilson insists MK Dons’ full focus is on Saturday’s Sky Bet League One clash with Rochdale.
The men from MK1 make their first trip to AFC Wimbledon on Tuesday evening – a game which has been eagerly-anticipated since the fixtures came out back in June.
Neilson, though, is keen to stress that his side’s attention is on this weekend’s fixture at Stadium MK and maintaining the impressive home record.
“We have to make sure our full focus is on this game on Saturday,” said Neilson.
“It’s a big game for us because it’s three points up for grabs at home and we want to continue doing well here.
“We’ll focus on that, hopefully get three points and then we can move on to two big games after that.”
He added: “For me and for the players, it shouldn’t be difficult (to only focus on Saturday). Fans can look ahead to these big games that are coming up but our focus has always got to be on the next one.
“The Rochdale game is the most important one for us at the moment. We’ll put the strongest team we can out and we’ll try to win the game.”
Here’s what else Neilson said in his Thursday press conference...
Millwall disappointment...
“It was disappointing but that’s football. You have to accept it and move on. We had a couple of chances to win the game but we didn’t take them. We had the penalty decision against us at the end which was disappointing but that’s football – you have to take it on the chin and move on.”
Fall-out from Millwall...
“It’s been a good week. We’ve been working hard. We had a couple of knocks from the last game but I’m expecting them back for what is going to be a big week for us.”
Neilson, though, is keen to stress that his side’s attention is on this weekend’s fixture at Stadium MK and maintaining the impressive home record.
“We have to make sure our full focus is on this game on Saturday,” said Neilson.
“It’s a big game for us because it’s three points up for grabs at home and we want to continue doing well here.
“We’ll focus on that, hopefully get three points and then we can move on to two big games after that.”
He added: “For me and for the players, it shouldn’t be difficult (to only focus on Saturday). Fans can look ahead to these big games that are coming up but our focus has always got to be on the next one.
“The Rochdale game is the most important one for us at the moment. We’ll put the strongest team we can out and we’ll try to win the game.”
Here’s what else Neilson said in his Thursday press conference...
Millwall disappointment...
“It was disappointing but that’s football. You have to accept it and move on. We had a couple of chances to win the game but we didn’t take them. We had the penalty decision against us at the end which was disappointing but that’s football – you have to take it on the chin and move on.”
Fall-out from Millwall...
“It’s been a good week. We’ve been working hard. We had a couple of knocks from the last game but I’m expecting them back for what is going to be a big week for us.”
Tickets for Saturday's Family Fun Day clash with Rochdale are priced at just £12 adults and £1 under-18s, while there will be a host of activity for supporters to enjoy from midday around Stadium MK and inside ArenaMK - click here for more details!
To book tickets click here, visit the Box Office/centre:mk kiosk or call 0333 200 5343.
“We’ve been up and down. I like to win every single game. I know it’s difficult in this league because it’s so unpredictable but that’s where we want to try and get to. Anytime we don’t pick up three points, it means there’s something we’ve got to try and work on.”
Recent form...
“Sometimes you play on really good surfaces where you can pass the ball. Other times, like our last two games, the pitches have taken a bit of a battering and then you need to be able to adapt your style. You can’t play as much as you liked to – it’s difficult to play out of the back and the central areas so you have to try and use the wide areas and be more direct. Those games are difficult but fortunately the pitch is good out there at Stadium MK and it suits us. Hopefully we can play a little bit more football than we did last week.”
Challenges of playing on difficult surfaces...
“They’ve had a good season. They’ve got some good attacking options and they change their shape and personnel a lot, which makes it quite hard to predict what they are going to do. It will be a tough one but we need to make sure we get three points. We’re confident that if we play to our levels we should.”
Rochdale...
To book tickets click here, visit the Box Office/centre:mk kiosk or call 0333 200 5343.
“We’ve been up and down. I like to win every single game. I know it’s difficult in this league because it’s so unpredictable but that’s where we want to try and get to. Anytime we don’t pick up three points, it means there’s something we’ve got to try and work on.”
Recent form...
“Sometimes you play on really good surfaces where you can pass the ball. Other times, like our last two games, the pitches have taken a bit of a battering and then you need to be able to adapt your style. You can’t play as much as you liked to – it’s difficult to play out of the back and the central areas so you have to try and use the wide areas and be more direct. Those games are difficult but fortunately the pitch is good out there at Stadium MK and it suits us. Hopefully we can play a little bit more football than we did last week.”
Challenges of playing on difficult surfaces...
“They’ve had a good season. They’ve got some good attacking options and they change their shape and personnel a lot, which makes it quite hard to predict what they are going to do. It will be a tough one but we need to make sure we get three points. We’re confident that if we play to our levels we should.”
Rochdale...
