Opinion: Where Blues could win or lose Vs. MK Dons

Following a disappointing Boxing Day defeat to Sheffield Wednesday, Blues will be looking to bounce back when they face MK Dons at St Andrews on Monday afternoon.

I discuss where the game could be won or lost for Gary Rowett`s men.

The threat of Josh Murphy?

Blues will have to be well aware of the threat that MK Dons winger Josh Murphy poses. His 90th minute winner on Boxing Day against Cardiff City in a 2-1 victory for The Dons will leave him high in confidence.

In some ways he is very similar to Demarai Gray. They are both young, quick and skilful wingers with a bright future ahead.

However, where Gray has lacked this season, Murphy looks to have flourished.

He has three goals and three assists to his name this season which suggests that, at the end of his build up play, he has a final product to go with it, unlike Gray.

With our full backs currently in a poor period of form, Murphy could capitalise on this and cause plenty of problems for the Blues defence.

Not ones for travelling?

Karl Robinson`s MK Dons have won six games this season but just one of them has come away from home. In fact, the last game they won on the road was on the opening day, away at Rotherham.

As we have seen so far this season at home, Blues have struggled when conceding the first goal in matches. Teams sit back, making it hard for Rowett`s players to create anything significant.

Blues need to be at it right from the get go, in the faces of the MK Dons players, winning the ball back quickly when they have lost it.

But, when we do have ball possession, we need to use it wisely. Hopefully, Stephen Gleeson will return to the line up following illness and add a bit of composure to the midfield.

Add to that, the return of Clayton Donaldson and he should relish a match against a side that don’t seem to play all that well away from home.

Take your chances?

In recent times, Blues have been far too wasteful in front of goal and haven’t scored more than two in a match since early November.

A ruthless touch is certainly needed. If we continue to create chances then the goals will begin to flow again.

At present, we are in a sticky patch of form and that hasn’t been helped by injuries to David Cotterill, Donaldson, Jonathan Grounds, Paul Robinson and now Neal Eardley, Shane Lowry and the illness to Gleeson.

Rowett hasn’t been able to play the starting eleven he would like to game after game. Hopefully, we are nearing the end of that cycle and we can begin to get some consistency in both team section and performance.

With Donaldson close to full fitness, he could get a start against MK Dons and that should help add more firepower to our team and add that all important finishing touch.

Key player for Blues?

I think it’s time now for every single player in a Blues shirt to start performing together as a team.

The players need to regain their early season form that came from high work ethic and togetherness. So, I think that each and every player will be crucial in getting a win against MK Dons.

We have struggled at home against the lesser teams of the division and, so, the only way to change this is to stick to what we are good at.

If every player does their job and helps others along the way then Blues could be on their way to three points.

Blues fans, do you agree with the points that have been made? Is the game against MK Dons a crucial game for Rowett’s men? Let us know in the comment section down below!