Ince: 'The last time we let in five we lost against Southend in the next game'
MK Dons manager Paul Ince welcomes back some of his first team regulars Saturday afternoon against the Shrimpers who he has plenty of respect for after losing 2-1 at Roots Hall last November to a last second Barnard penalty.
Ince told www.mkdons.com: 'Southend are a good side with with some talented players and if you let them play football they will hurt you. They haven't got a lot to lose because I can't see them going down and, with respect, they're not going to make the play-offs."
MK Dons have proved to be a hoodoo team to the Shrimpers in the past until the previous clash between the clubs when Southend won for the first time since the former South London club were allowed to move to Buckinhamshire.
The ex-England midfielder remembered: "The last time we let in five, at Charlton, we lost against Southend in the next game so I'm hoping lightning doesn't strike twice. We need to start fast, get the early goal, settle ourselves down and go from there.'
However, it all returns to last Saturday's 5-0 defeat against Carlisle, welcoming back some vital players, and making sure it doesn't happen again.
Ince continued: "They're and honest buch of lads, they know when they haven't put it in and they know when they haven't played well. That wasn't us against Carlisle, for numerous reasons it was an abysmal performance. You just hope it was down to the strains of the previous fixtures, which were tirering for different reasons, and not down to a bigger problem. Either way, they need to put that right.'
Though Ince will see the return from suspension of 17-goal top scorer Jermaine Easter he will not be able to call on fellow striker Sam Baldock who has a knee problem.
However, it's at the back he's got the greatest concern and he may well take a risk on players not yet 100% fit to get his team's play off chances back on track.
He concluded: "I think (Mathia) Doumbe's going to be out, but Woody (Danny Woodards) trained today so we'll see how he is on Saturday. Cracks (David McCracken), is a bit touch and go so it might be a risk throwing him in, but we need to start winning games."