Milton Keynes Dons

Neilson’s Dons signed off the 2016/17 campaign with a terrific 4-1 triumph at the Banks’s Stadium – a result which kept them in 12th-place above the Saddlers and also saw them end the season on a positive note.

“I'm delighted to end the season on a high and finish in the top half,” Neilson said after Sunday’s success.

“I thought it was a really good team performance. Sometimes when you come to the end of the season, there’s not an awful lot to play for and it can be difficult to get that intensity but the players today were a real credit to the Club – they were excellent.

“We’d be delighted (to have Harvey back). From the first time he stepped onto the pitch, when he came on and scored a goal in his first game, he’s been excellent – not just in his ability but the way he’s carried himself too. He’s come in and worked hard and the players have taken to him. I’m going to speak to Leicester City next week and push to try and get him back. It’s going to be difficult because he’ll have other teams interested in him but we feel this is a great place for him to develop.”
Harvey Barnes

“It was a great performance from him. We know with Reevesy that if you get him into those areas he’s got the quality to score goals like that. We’ve spoken to him about next year and offered him a contract. He’s having a think about it because obviously, with a player of his calibre, there are going to be over teams interested. He’s got a right to go out and see what’s there so we’ll see how that one progresses over the next week or two.”
Ben Reeves

“It’s been a rollercoaster few years for him and hopefully he can get a bit of stability with us now. I think we’ll see the best of him next season once he starts to mature and get settled at the Club. We're asking him to do a lot against some big defenders. He’s got all the attributes to be a top striker, though – he’s big, he’s quick and he’s got good technique. He just needs to put that altogether now more regularly.”
Robbie Muirhead

“We spoke before the game about the way Walsall play – they dominant a lot of possession and we gave that up to them so that we could try and steal it. The goals from exactly that, which was pleasing. The first two finishes were excellent and although the two to finish it off were deflections, you still have to be there to take the shot.”
Quality goals
Here’s what else we learnt from Neilson’s post-match interviews...

“Hopefully we've brought back some positivity to the Club. Now we’ll be looking to take the positivity through to pre-season and then the new campaign when it gets started.”

He continued: “We leave the season on a high and now we can look forward to next season.

“It could have been easy for a lot of them today, some of whom aren’t going to be here next year, and not give it 100 percent but I couldn’t really ask any more from all of them.”

“They were fantastic today. There was loads of noise and loads of energy. It’s pleasing to see them travel all the way here and for us to be able to give them three points. Hopefully they’ll enjoy this result and carry that enthusiasm into next season as well.
Superb support

“Dean Lewington arranged that for them and it was a great way to thank them because they have been total professionals. I couldn’t speak more highly of them and I think everyone at the Club respects them. They’ve had some great games and experiences here at MK Dons and they go with our best wishes. I’m sure they’ll be well received anytime they come back to Stadium MK.”
Fitting send-off for Darren Potter and David Martin

“We’ve spoken to Lewie and, as I’ve said previously, we’d like to keep him here. I’ve had a meeting with him, the chairman has spoken to him and he’s going to have a few days to think about it. I’m very hopeful that we can get something sorted for him.”
Dean Lewington