Fleetwood Town boss is prepared for MK Dons test

Simon Grayson expects a much different test for his Fleetwood Town side this weekend than the one they were posed in midweek.
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Town face an in-form MK Dons at Highbury this afternoon, having lost 5-2 against Burton Albion on Tuesday.

They come up against a Dons side sitting ninth in the table after seven wins and a draw in their last 10 matches.

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The last of those was a 5-0 win against Swindon Town last weekend, a game in which Russell Martin’s side enjoyed 72 per cent of the possession.

Fleetwood Town head coach Simon Grayson Picture: Stephen Buckley/PRiME Media Images LimitedFleetwood Town head coach Simon Grayson Picture: Stephen Buckley/PRiME Media Images Limited
Fleetwood Town head coach Simon Grayson Picture: Stephen Buckley/PRiME Media Images Limited
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“It’s certainly going to be a different proposition that’s for sure,” Grayson said.

“They’re a possession-based team, different to Burton who get it up to the strikers, fight for second balls and then go play.

“Whereas, with MK Dons, they’re going to play out from the back, suck you in, rotate and play through the thirds.

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“I didn’t see much of them at the start of the season but lots of people were telling me how good they were and how pleasing they were on the eye.

“It opens them up to potentially being vulnerable as well, as they make the pitch open and we could get chances against them.

“The work that I’ve done in the last week or so in our match preparation for this has been justified with what people have told me about them.

“They have some very talented footballers and play a certain way.

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“They took their chances against Swindon last week. When you’re 3-0 or 4-0 up at half-time, it shows that if you’re not at it you can come unstuck.

“We have to make sure we’re hard to play against, we get on the ball and cause them problems and respond.”

MK Dons’ win against Swindon was highlighted by four goals from Will Grigg.

The striker’s abilities at this level are well known, having previously helped Wigan Athletic to the title and scoring 19 league goals.

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He has eight in 18 for Martin’s side this season but the Town boss said there won’t be any special treatment for the Northern Irishman this afternoon.

Grayson said: “We’re not going to go and man mark him or anything like that – when he goes off at half-time, we’re not going to follow him into his dressing room!

“We’re respectful because he’s had a good career and he’s got good players around him making chances for him.

“We need to stop the source and then, hopefully, by stopping the source it limits him to few opportunities.”

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