MK Dons boss Paul Warne ‘really pleased’ after win over Fleetwood

Paul Warne was pleased as MK Dons continued their positive form with a 2-1 win over Fleetwood.

The Dons took the lead when Nathaniel Mendez-Laing scored a 37th-minute penalty after Joe Tomlinson was fouled by Fleetwood goalkeeper Jay Lynch.

Aaron Nemane doubled the Dons’ lead with just over 20 minutes remaining after an initial Callum Paterson header struck the post.

Fleetwood substitute Ched Evans scored just after coming on, but the Dons held on and have now lost just one of their past nine League Two matches.

Warne said he felt his side’s defensive work helped deliver the goods.

He said: “I just thought we created loads of opportunities today and chances to score. The lads have given everything physically, which we expect, but there was a lot of play forward and forward runs against a really good and well-organised team.

“So generally, I’m really pleased. There’s some really outstanding performances.

“My initial thing at 2-1 was to look at the clock and I thought ‘Oh no’, but I thought the lads rode the time after that really well.

“Generally, really pleased with the way we defended. I said to the lads that you get points for the attacking stuff and goals and all that, however, the clearances, volleys on the edge of the box late on, winning the headers, they’re the things that get you success. That’s what pleased me the most.

“All you can do is win your game and just keep winning games.

“I’m just pleased for the lads really and everyone at the football club.”

Pete Wild was left disappointed, with the Fleetwood boss feeling his side were worthy of taking a share of the spoils.

He said: “It’s not as if we’ve been outplayed and we’ve certainly done enough to get a point out of the game.

“I think if you dissect the game, first half, we paid them too much respect and let them dictate and dominate the ball. We dropped too early and spent most of the half containing them.

“Second half, I said at half-time that if we’re going to come here, let’s go down fighting and let’s give them something to think about.

“We’ve spent the whole second half in their half and controlled the second half, but again, we’ve not tracked a runner for their second goal, which is really annoying.

“We came straight back into the game and I thought we were really good for a point second half. I’m really disappointed we haven’t got a point in the end. My whole synopsis of the game is that we should’ve got a point.”