Paul Tisdale declares stop-start Lincoln game didn’t help MK Dons
MK Dons manager Paul Tisdale felt the stop-start nature of their clash with Lincoln City counted against his team, as his side lost out in a battle of 2 of League 2’s promotion contenders.
The Dons’ boss spoke after a goal in each half from Lincoln’s John Akinde and Bruno Andrade decided the match in favour of the League 2 leaders.
Speaking after the match, Tisdale felt that the team’s momentum was checked by numerous stoppages during the contest. He was also critical of some of the calls, with one noteworthy example being a foul on Chuks Aneke when he was going through and that got a yellow.
He said, “There were so many stop-start situations, which didn’t suit us today. There was a lot going on today and I think there was an accumulation of decisions.
“There were some critical ones which would’ve lead to something significant, such as a foul on Chuks on the edge of the box – it only got a yellow and I doubted that one. He was being fouled before he even got to the ball.”
Lincoln’s first goal was the result of a penalty after Ryan Harley’s foul, and the Dons boss felt that while it wasn’t a 100% clear call, it was not one of the afternoon’s more debatable calls.
He said, “The referee was close to it and I think its one he could give. I don’t think it was clear but I’m not going to argue it. I think Ryan got a touch on it but I think there were far more contentious decisions than that one.”
Tisdale was left to lament a crucial moment when Lincoln goalkeeper Matt Gilks pulled off a big save late on to keep out Aneke, seconds before Andrade’s second goal.
The Dons manager was unhappy the referee missed a handball in the build up, but admitted the moment when Aneke was denied was the crucial one.
He said, “If we’d scored with a minute to go, it would’ve been a draw and the second goal killed it for us. But it was also a clear handball to control it. There were so many decisions and he must’ve thought there were one too many to give. I can see why he didn’t give it.
“But the game was won by then – they’d won it as we’d missed our chance when the keeper made the save. That was a big moment and you can’t blame Chuks – it was a great header and it goes in a foot either side of the keeper.”
Tisdale also commented that he was not unhappy with how the players performed overall, and was now looking for more from the final 5 matches of the season.
He said, “I think Lincoln were very tight with their game and we came up short although I like the way we played. I’m not unhappy with how the players played but I’m unhappy with the result. It was a cracking game but we now have to look to the next 5 games and back ourselves to perform over those games.”