Football Season Guide

There weren’t many dull moments in another eventful season at MK Dons - their first back in League Two after relegation. Graham Alexander began his reign in spectacular fashion with a 5-3 away victory over much-fancied Wrexham and had the Dons on top of the table in the early weeks. The honeymoon period quickly ended and a run of eight matches without a win saw Alexander sacked after just sixteen games in charge. The club appointed former Newcastle defender Mike Williamson, who arrived with little pedigree but quickly endeared himself to the supporters. After losing his first game in charge, he orchestrated an unbeaten run of seven wins and two draws, which was the start of their rise back into play-off contention. MK Dons were a team of spectacular highs and disastrous lows under Williamson, with rarely any middle ground. One week they could ship five goals and the next week could be a 5-0 win. While it showed a great ability to bounce back from disappointments, it also revealed that they were very much an “on-top” team that could produce some great football when things were going well, but were also liable to collapse defensively when things went wrong. That was displayed when they eventually did make it into the play-offs and were hammered 8-1 on aggregate by Crawley in a crushing end to their dream of going straight back up to League One. Unsurprisingly most of the Dons best performers last season were attacking players. Alex Gilbey, Stephen Wearne and loanee Emre Tezgel all impressed in support of the effervescent Max Dean up front. The 20-year-old Dean struck 19 goals in all competitions last season and terrorised defences with his constant work-rate. Unfortunately for Dons fans, the club couldn’t keep hold of him as Belgian top flight club Gent came calling. Dean has left big shoes to fill and the club have signed Callum Hendry from Salford as a potential replacement. Matt Dennis is another option up front if he can stay fit this term. All in all the club have made eleven new signings in the window so far, mostly defensive as they look to tighten up at the back whilst maintaining their attacking potency.