Dan Micciche pleased with MK Dons character after long-awaited away win
Posted Friday, March 30, 2018 by PA
MK Dons manager Dan Micciche was pleased to see his side shrug off a couple of poor decisions against them and record a vital 2-1 victory at Gillingham that boosted their survival hopes.
The six-month wait for an away win looked set to go on for the Dons, who had what appeared to be a good penalty shout waved away, while Chuks Aneke was fouled by Max Ehmer when clean through.
But George Williams struck an 85th-minute winner for the visitors at the Priestfield Stadium that gave them their third victory in four games and lifted them out of the League One relegation zone.
Micciche said: “I think it’s great character by the players and I think that two or three months ago, they’d collapse and allow bad decisions to get the better of them.
“One of the things we focused on from day one, when me and Keith (Millen) came in, was discipline.
“The disciplinary record wasn’t good enough when we came in – too many bookings, too many red cards, going to ground too easily, so we did our research on how we were conceding goals.
“I think the players have stuck to that – they know what the plan is and they were able just to refocus, which is all I can ask for.
“The players showed fantastic character and I think we deserved it in the end.
“If we look at the second half, two massive decisions haven’t gone our way. But I’m pleased for the players because they’ve kept the momentum going.”
The Dons went ahead after 34 minutes through a confident finish by Aneke, but Gillingham hit back before half-time through a header by full debutant Navid Nasseri.
Williams then snatched victory for the Dons late on by just about stabbing Ed Upson’s through ball into the net.
Gillingham manager Steve Lovell said: “I can’t fault the players, we had the majority of the possession throughout the game.
“We were in control, we looked solid in defence and going forward we were creating, but we didn’t finish them off.
“It’s the second game on the spin that that’s happened, where we’ve been the better side. We played a lot of good football but we’re not sticking the ball in the back of the net.
“I just spoke to Dan and he said ‘you’ve got a bloody good side here’ – and he’s right.
“I’m so disappointed for them because the last two games we deserved to get something out of them so that’s a plus.
“I enjoyed watching us play and when a manager’s saying that then we’ve done something right.
“Apart from the goals they scored they didn’t offer a lot, but it’s down to us and how we defend as a unit.”
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