MK Dons boss Liam Manning reveals plan to beat Bristol Rovers amid pressure talk

MK Dons manager Liam Manning has dismissed tonight’s clash with Bristol Rovers as a must-win.

The Dons occupy one of the relegation spots in League One after a slow start to the campaign.

Manning’s side do possess a game in hand and this will be one of those matches tonight, however by the standards set last season, they are far off.

They had been challenging for promotion last season and lost out at the semi-final stage to Wycombe Wanderers despite finishing as the highest-ranked team.

After losing Scott Twine to Burnley and Harry Darling to Swansea City, their team has had to go through a transition period of finding their feet again.

A victory for the side from Buckinghamshire would see them overtake Rovers who have won the same amount of games as them but two of the Gas three wins have come at home with Burton their only away win.

Discussing whether tonight’s match was a must-win given the closeness in the league standings between the two, the 37-year-old dismissed that.

“There is pressure going into every game,” Manning said in his pre-match press conference.

“I wouldn’t say it is the be-all or end-all though I think that is quite important. A win would be massive for everybody but at the same point whatever the outcome of the game it’s not going to change everything overnight in terms of we’re completely down or out or out of the other end in terms of the positive aspects.

“I think it’s a case of controlling what we can, we have to go into the game, stick together and make sure that we are clear on the game plan, make sure we have the discipline and the bravery to go and deliver it and then the outcome will be there. I think it will be the most important thing for the game tomorrow.”