MK Dons boss Paul Tisdale still targeting promotion despite Crewe setback

Posted Sunday, January 20, 2019 by PA

MK Dons boss Paul Tisdale was left disappointed as he watched his side lose ground on the top three in Sky Bet League Two following a 1-0 home defeat by Crewe.

Crewe’s Charlie Kirk scored the only goal of the game just after the half-hour mark and the Dons were unable to respond.

The result leaves them in fifth and four points off third-placed Mansfield.

Tisdale’s side are going through a sticky spell with just one win in their last five games, but the former Exeter boss is confident they can turn their form around.

“It’s another missed opportunity for us. It’s definitely a case of us missing out on points again,” Tisdale said.

“We are bitterly disappointed with the result. We were below our best but we need to win these games.

“It was another challenge to get a goal back and it’s one we didn’t meet. We’re all aware of what we’ve got to do and we’ve just got to go and do it.

“We’re going through a bad patch and we’ve got to get ourselves out of it. I’ve been here before and I know what we need to do.

“I believe we’re capable of turning things around. We need to show a bit of resolve. Over the last six or seven games we’ve not been good enough – it’s as simple as that.

“But I believe over the course of the season it has been and we’ve just got to get out of this bump in the road and back into form.

“I believe we’re good enough to turn this around and get promoted.

“I understand the fans are concerned and I’m concerned too.”

Dons keeper Lee Nicholls did well to keep out Crewe’s Perry Ng before Chuks Aneke was denied by Ben Garratt at the other end.

But in the 32nd minute, Kirk rounded off an excellent counter with powerful finish past Nicholls.

And Crewe boss David Artell was pleased with what his team achieved after refusing to discuss his fourth booking of the season for remonstrating with the fourth official.

“MK Dons have the best home record in the league and you can see that,” he said.

“We gave as good as we got and it was a terrific performance.

“The goal we scored starts at our goalkeeper and we’ve done that a few times this season. It’s a great goal and a great finish.

“We played football and I thought it was a great game to watch.

“We were terrific. The boys played football. The way we moved the ball, our purpose, our intent.

“I don’t want to talk about the referee, but he was awful again.”