MK DONS were one of the few clubs in the division to beat the wintry weather last week – and probably wished they hadn't bothered.

A 1-0 home defeat against Bristol Rovers increased the relegation fears for the third-bottom side, who remain six points from safety.

The efforts of fans and ground staff to get the game on came to nothing as the trapdoor to League Two opened wider.

It has been some fall from grace for a club fancied to be among the promotion candidates at the start of the season.

Chairman Pete Winkelman gambled with the appointment of untried Dan Micciche when Robbie Neilson was sacked in January when they first dropped into the bottom four.

Micciche, previously manager of the England under-16s team, was handed his first senior role.

Yet the former Dons academy coach has endured a torrid start – and has yet to win in eight games in charge.

Seven of those have been in the league, producing only two points and three goals.

His team were booed off after their latest loss but the 38-year-old insists he still has the confidence of Winkelman.

Micciche said: "We've not had that conversation. I was brought in here to do a job and 11 games (left) are a lot.

"Two points out of 21 doesn't tell the full story. We've had suspensions – it's not my fault Ed Upson and Ethan Ebanks-Landell had nine bookings when I got here.

"We've had eight injuries and these aren't excuses, they're facts.

"I'm sure everyone can recognise a lot of things are better. But the thing that matters are the results and we're trying desperately to change that.

"I believe we are very close. The tiny details are either not going for us or we're not capitalising.

"At this moment in the season, we need results quickly, so all we can think about now is Bradford.

"We've got 33 points to play for but won't need that many to stay in this division. We'll need 20 max – and that's being generous."