MK Dons assistant boss Karl Robinson admitted that his side will have their work cut out against Paul Lambert's miserly City in tonight's live TV clash at Stadium:MK.
The Canaries started the season shipping goals for fun, but ever since the Scot made the trip up the A12 from Colchester, his new charges have become much more resolute � three clean sheets in a row is proof of that.
And with the likes of Grant Holt still leading the line, goals at the other end will surely not be a problem, even if they did look a little predictable in their last outing against Walsall.
But Paul Ince's right-hand man Robinson is certainly expecting them to be hard to break down on Monday night.
“I believe one of Paul Lambert's briefs was to look at the goals they had conceded in the short space of time before he joined, as that was their weakness,” he told the MK Citizen.
“And I am sure when he came in one of his main objectives was to work on the back four and I think they will be hard to break down.
“But that is something we are looking forward to. We like playing against the big teams but we won't treat them in any different way.
“We were outstanding in going forward against Huddersfield and I think for a 20 minute spell during the second half no team would have handled us.”
The game is to be televised live on Sky, but Robinson has insisted that Dons' players won't be fazed by the cameras.
Since the controversial switch from Wimbledon to their current name, the club have always been under the spotlight � especially with ex-England 'guv'nor' Ince at the helm.
So don't expect the Dons to get all camera shy come 7.45 tonight.
“Last time the gaffer was here we had five games on TV and that is purely because of the football we play,” he said. “We like having the cameras here.
“It won't change our preparation and our attitude towards the game though. The side will go out in the same way they do for every game and give 100 per cent.”
On the injury front, Ince's men continue to have concerns at the back after Danny Woodards hobbled off against Huddersfield.
And even this early on in the season, the Buckinghamshire club have a suspension to deal with after Luke Howell picked up his fifth booking in seven games, meaning he'll miss out tonight.
This will inevitably mean that Mathias Doumbe will be shifted to right-back and Danny Swailes may be handed a start for the first time in over a year.
The rest of the side should remain unchanged as Ince � in his second spell as boss at Stadium:MK – sticks to his preferred 4-5-1 formation.
For the visitors, Darel Russell remains a doubt after picking up a calf knock in last week's reserves romp over Southend.
But it's a case of 'wait and see' on the former City trainee with Lambert admitting that they will leave it to the last minute to assess his fitness.
The only other injury complaints are with Matt Gill (knee) and Owain Tudur Jones (calf). Their return to action is still likely to be weeks away.
Adam Drury has been passed fit to play after he was in the wars once again in last weekend's Saddlers clash.
A clash of heads has left no lasting damage meaning the long-serving left-back will take up his usual spot and it would be a surprise to see any other changes, with Jamie Cureton being given a chance to bag his first goal of the season in front of the Sky cameras.
Tom Haylett
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