Paul Tisdale hails MK Dons’ fighting qualities

Posted Sunday, December 09, 2018 by PA

MK Dons manager Paul Tisdale hailed the fighting qualities of his side after they were forced to dig deep to claim three points in a 2-0 victory over Carlisle.

Tisdale was left beaming as the Dons recorded their third win in four games to retain their spot at the top of League Two.

Jordan Houghton scored his second goal of the season five minutes into the second half before Kieran Agard added a second as MK Dons side continued their unbeaten league record at Stadium MK.

Tisdale said: “I think we were on it today and I really enjoyed the way we played – I’d like to give my players credit for being alive and focused for each other and all the time we’re nudging our play forwards and our development.

“Today is about beating our opponent and we’ve done that so we march onto the next one. I’m delighted with the way it has gone today.

“Our football is evolving and there’ll be ups and downs throughout the season but we’re in a transition phase, but it’s a good place to do it from because we’re top of the league.

“I congratulated a couple of my players in the dressing room afterwards because there were some big performances from people today.

“It was a lovely move for our second and long may that continue.

“We’ve been performing really well at the top end of the pitch and that’s really pleasing for me and my team because that means we’re doing something right at the top end of the pitch.

“It was the perfect ball in from Dean Lewington for our second goal and he’s playing really well.

“It’s been a clean slate for all the team from me so I gave them all a blank canvas at the start of the season – but I’m not surprised for someone who has played over 700 games.”

Carlisle boss John Sheridan said: “I felt it was an opportunity missed today because coming into the game, I thought the way they played would match us up and we’d do OK – there wasn’t a lot in it to be honest.

“There wasn’t too much going on in the game and I think sometimes we shoot ourselves in the foot because I have belief that we should be competing at the top of the league…but I’m not sure the players believe.

“We’ve had chances to score today but I think whoever gets that first goal would go on to win the game. Unfortunately for us it’s them who get the goal. They were clinical and we should do better defensively.

“MK Dons kept the ball better than us at the top end of the pitch, but we left them all in too much space and my players should be stopping the danger that they caused us.

“Our final ball needs to better and we need to have that clinical edge and I think that’s the difference today. Lincoln and MK Dons have that clinical edge but we don’t.

“We need to be better in the final third and we’ll try and add to the squad in January to try and find those goals we need.”