Maguire backs boss to end 'dark years' for MK Dons

Laurence Maguire spent last season on loan at Crawley from Chesterfield

Defender Laurence Maguire believes straight-talking boss Scott Lindsey is the perfect man to end the "dark years" at MK Dons.

Maguire was one of 15 signings by the League Two club over the summer, having helped Crawley Town to promotion last season, playing under Lindsey.

The Dons are unbeaten in three league games since Lindsey took over last month but missed out on a second win when Tranmere scored a stoppage-time equaliser on Saturday.

"He's straight to the point, that's why he's such a good manager. The boys need to know when we've played well and when we haven't played well and you could see his frustration in the changing room after," Maguire told BBC Three Counties Radio.

"I've worked with the gaffer before and know how good he is, not just on the pitch. As a man, he's great to have around, he'll bring this club together and this is what is needed.

"Obviously they've had a few dark years and now it's time to build it up and he's the right man for the job - definitely."

The 27-year-old younger brother of Manchester United and England's Harry Maguire created MK's goal against Tranmere with a through ball to scorer Joe White.

It was a move which also highlighted Lindsey's attention to detail.

"It's something we worked on. He does his analysis on the opposition, he's really big on that. He said before the game about the gap between the Tranmere midfield and the centre-halves and it was nice for it to work. It was a great finish from Joe," said Maguire.

"He does want to play the right way, possession based, and that's the MK way. Off the pitch, the standards, the intensity, the training sessions, you can see everything has gone up (a level) and long may that continue."

MK Dons are 13th in the table but only four points adrift of the play-off places, having recently been taken over by a Kuwait-base consortium.

They face Arsenal's Under-21 side in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday before their next league fixture at home to Port Vale on Saturday.