Walsall FC target MK Dons win in bid to pull clear of promotion rivals

Swindon escaped the Banks's with a 1-1 draw and last weekend's fixture at Coventry fell victim to the weather.

But there is a sense MK Dons will arrive in WS1 on Saturday with their season at stake.

Karl Robinson's side have won just one game in the last eight and lost their last three on the spin. They sit 10 points behind the Saddlers and know defeat could leave them with something of a mountain to climb over the final third of the campaign.

And they meet a home side unbeaten in front of their own fans for over two months and seemingly with all the momentum, despite last week's enforced lay-off.

"We coped with it," said boss Dean Smith of the Coventry postponement. "We turned up as if the game was going to be on and when we got the shout we trained at the stadium and we all went off to watch games.

"This week has been back to normal, on schedule, getting ready for what will be a tough game with MK Dons.

"We have a lot of belief within the squad at the moment and a lot of confidence. But we are always looking to the next game and we know they have got a lot of really good players.

"They have not been getting results recently but are certainly a threat with the players they have."

Smith is typically cautious when talking about the Dons but looking at the two clubs' respective results since Boxing Day, it is impossible not to gain the opinion these are two teams heading in different directions.

Since losing 1-0 to Bristol City in arguably their second worst display of the season after the 3-0 home defeat by Preston, the Saddlers have embarked on a seven-game unbeaten run which has launched them into sixth place. They've recorded their best result, while the return of Febian Brandy has given the atmosphere around the squad a boost. Smith will be hoping for a similar impact from last week's deadline day capture of Michael Ngoo on loan from Liverpool.

The Dons, by contrast, have celebrated just a 3-2 win over Shrewsbury and have failed to score on their recent losing run.

Robinson, who is often touted along with Smith as the division's best young manager, has been openly critical of his side. His problems have been exacerbated by the loss of striker Patrick Bamford, who scored 17 goals in 30 games while on loan from Chelsea. Defender Sean Williams, who got the only goal in a 1-0 win over the Saddlers in November, has moved to Millwall.

Smith has sympathy for Robinson and felt they were unlucky in last week's last-gasp 1-0 home defeat to Tranmere.

"They were a bit similar to us in a lot of games this season where they dominated, should have won the game and ended up losing it in the last minute," he said.

Meanwhile, all eyes will be on the Saddlers newest loan arrival Ngoo. The striker has had a week to settle following his arrival and while he may not start against the Dons, Smith is convinced he will quickly settle.

"I think he has really enjoyed it so far, he has had a few training sessions with us already," said Smith.

"When I first met him his character was really good, he's really sociable so I expected him to settle in straight away."

Smith is flush with options at full-back with Andy Taylor and James Chambers both recovered from injury, while Dele Alli is likely to replace Dean Bowditch in the middle for Dons.