Peter Leven

By Oli
March 3 2009

Dons midfielder Peter Leven says the team have taken great heart from their superb performance against Leicester City at the weekend, and firmly believe they are good enough for the Championship - but admits they need to find a ruthless streak in front of goal.

Leven's two goals had given the Dons a thoroughly deserved lead against table toppers Leicester, but Max Gradel's injury-time free-kick rescued the Foxes a point. Despite the result, Leven insists the performance has given the Dons the belief they are good enough to move up a division and survive.

He told the Citizen: "We are good enough for the Championship and the gaffer and Eddie tell us to play football the right way with the ball on the carpet.

"All we need to do is put the ball in the back of the net at the end of it."

The midfielder had criticism for referee Andy Penn, for reasons other than the extremely lengthy added time played, and the very soft free-kick given for Leicester's equaliser.

"I don't think it was a foul, Steve Howard has played for it and is experienced enough to do that.

"But the referee wouldn't talk to you on the pitch and he had a bit of an attitude.

"If you asked a question he said 'don't speak to me' and stuff like that, but you get these referees some times. He wouldn't even speak to anyone after the game."

But Leven says the Dons will put that disappointment behind them and carry the good performance into Tuesday night's local derby with Northampton Town, with the Scot keen to add to his goal tally, which reached 10 on Saturday.

"I am doing alright in terms of goals and hopefully I will get a few more. The target was double figures so I have achieved that and will keep going."