Interim MK Dons boss Ben Gladwin praised returning Jack Sanders after his goal secured a 1-0 win at Cheltenham.
The defender has endured a nightmare start at Dons after joining them from St Johnstone for £150,000 in January, spending four days on a drip in hospital with a kidney infection.
But he made it a triumphant return, meeting Joe White’s cross at the far post after a short corner routine and heading past Joe Day in the ninth minute.
“I am really pleased for Jack Sanders because it’s not been the easiest start for him at the football club,” Gladwin said.
“I am sure he’s going to enjoy his evening, but I am also sure he’ll be a little bit sore. The back three were phenomenal and we the team defended exceptionally.
“I am relieved, because of the result and we should have had a few more goals.
“But it’s a win and a massive moment and we have an opportunity to go back-to-back on Tuesday (Carlisle away).
“I am proud of the players, there is more energy in the dressing room which I was so happy to see after the game.
“We can all see the talent, but it’s making sure the mentality and the energy is there and we had that today, with the fans also making a difference.
“My dad was in the away end and he said his ears were killing him after the game.”
Gladwin’s side had started strongly, with White firing an effort wide in the third minute and Joe Tomlinson’s shot blocked in the box.
After Sanders’ goal, Callum Hendry was denied by Ibrahim Bakare’s block.
Cheltenham’s first serious effort was a header from Matty Taylor after Jordan Thomas’ cross in the 18th minute which cleared the bar.
Dons keeper Connal Trueman made a double save to deny Taylor and Thomas after half an hour and Sam Stubbs saw a header kicked off the line before half-time.
Cheltenham rarely threatened to find a leveller in the second half and Day had to make a fine save to deny Laurence Maguire in the 89th minute to prevent the Dons doubling their lead.
Robins boss Michael Flynn admitted his team were poor in the first half as their outside play-off hopes suffered a major blow.
“The first 35 minutes killed us and it’s as bad as I’ve seen us, we were awful,” he said.
“I am not going to try and make excuses. We looked flat and they looked like they wanted it more.
“Second half, I’d say was pretty even, but we didn’t create much at all.
“MK have a massive budget, but it wasn’t budgets that won them the game today, they won that on the way they approached the game, the way they started and the problems they created for us.
“We let them do it because we were passive and that is the disappointing thing.”
Let's start our Daily Laugh today. Real Madrid vs Al Hilal With the score at 10-0 against Auckland City, Manuel Neuer started doing warm-up exercises in the middle of the field... lol International Trophies It's been a year since Kylian Mbappé broke his nose at the Euros. We never got to see the mask everyone wanted to see "A competition without Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal & Bar...
Chelsea have kicked off their Club World Cup campaign, but behind the scenes there is still serious transfer work going on.While Enzo Maresca trains his players in the USA, the transfer team are getting to work on helping build his squad.Gittens still wants Chelsea – Chelsea still want GittensThe attempts to sign Borussia Dortmund winger Jamie Gittens before the tournament failed, but it's c...
Arsenal are in the mix to complete a surprise deal for former Manchester City player Aymeric Laporte, with a report detailing how much he will cost to sign from Al-Nassr this summer.Laporte first arrived in England in January 2018 when Man City broke their transfer record by paying Athletic Club £57million to sign him on a five-and-a-half-year contract. The centre-back went on to make 180 app...
Rafael Leao, Nico Williams, Bradley Barcola and Eberechi Eze are among Bayern Munich's potential targets after missing out on the signing of Bayer Leverkusen starlet Florian Wirtz, sources told ESPN.Wirtz, who is currently on holiday following the UEFA Nations League finals, is set to soon complete his transfer to Liverpool, after ESPN reported last week that the Premier League champions had agree...
Man Utd and Napoli show interest in Hudson-OdoiCallum Hudson-Odoi, who joined Nottingham Forest from Chelsea in 2023, has only a year left in his existing deal. The winger had an impressive outing in the 2024-25 campaign and played a key role in the club securing a European place after 30 years away from continental competition. The 24-year-old scored five goals and provided three assists in 36 ga...
Pablo Marin of Spain and Issa Doumbia of Italy battle for the ballSpain and Italy played out a 1-1 draw in their final group game of the UEFA European U21 Championship, ensuring both nations completed it without defeat (W2, D1).With passage to the quarter-finals already sealed for both nations, this matchup was purely a fight for top spot, and it was the Spaniards who edged proceedings in the earl...
Thomas Frank was chosen among 30 candidates for the Tottenham jobTottenham CEO Vinai Venkatesham has revealed that Thomas Frank was chosen among more than 30 other candidates to succeed Ange Postecoglou as manager.Tottenham chose Thomas Frank as their new head coach last week, and were made to pay London rivals Brentford 310million in the process as Franks appointment was published only days after...
Saudi clubs prepare huge bids for Tottenham captain KaneTottenham captain Son Heung-min has attracted interest from three Saudi Pro League clubs ahead of a potential summer move.The South Korea international has just 12 months remaining on his current Spurs deal and has been linked with a move away, with the North London club reportedly open to selling him this summer to cash in on the experienced...
And just like that, the transfer window is closed.Now depending on where you've been for the past few weeks, you might be asking yourself two questions:1. Is that a "Sex and the City" reference? 2. Wait, what?To the first question: Of course it is. Bring back Samantha.And to the second: With the Club World Cup kicking off this past weekend and set to stretch all the way through mid-July, FIFA gave...
LaLiga president Tebas: Barcelona cannot register Garcia - for nowLaLiga president Javier Tebas has warned Barcelona must sell to register Joan Garcia.Barca have agreed to pay goalkeeper Garcia's €25m buyout clause in his Espanyol contract.However, Tebas insists the Blaugrana do not have room in their registered budget to sign Garcia at this stage.He said, "We haven't even set dates yet, but...
- 1 DONE DEAL: Marseille confirm CJ Egan-Riley signing from Burnley
- 2 Chloe Kelly enjoys sun-kissed holiday as Arsenal star rests before Euro 2025
- 3 Jack Grealish set to leave Man City this summer
- 4 Man Utd make decision on replacing Andre Onana with Emi Martinez this summer
- 5 PSG vs Atletico Madrid Prediction 16 June 2025
- 6 Laura Woods gives update on post-pregnancy body
- 7 Real Madrid eye a trio of targets
- 8 Maddison and Wag announce they're expecting twins AGAIN
- 9 'If you want to understand, it's really obvious' – USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino responds to Christian Pulisic, eager to move past off-field drama
- 10 Tottenham make 'mega £70m bid for Bryan Mbeumo' as Man Utd fear hijack