Paul Tisdale impressed by Colchester as his MK Dons side suffer rare home defeat

MK Dons manager Paul Tisdale admitted fellow promotion-chasers Colchester “did a job” on his side as they fell to a first home league defeat of the season.

A rare goal from defender Luke Prosser, who poached the eventual winner from a first-half corner, earned the U’s a first victory at Stadium MK.

Tisdale refused to criticise his players after their third loss of an impressive League Two campaign, instead crediting the visitors with a perfectly executed game plan.

“Of course we are disappointed to lose, especially as we have not lost a league game at home so far this season,” the Dons boss said.

“I’ve just watched their goal back and it was an incredibly well-worked corner routine, so if they meant what they did I don’t really see how I can be disappointed with our defending.

“They did a very good job on us and there is very little for me to complain about, especially in the first half.

“We could have done a bit better but there are no criticisms from me to be honest.

“I don’t want to blow too much hot air into the disappointment, we weren’t below par it was just a case that they played better than us.

“We’re going to have plenty of challenges this season and it’s our job to respond over the next couple of games.

“When you’re trying to push and press we had to make sure we didn’t concede a second goal and we created some good chances of our own, but we just didn’t manage to to get the ball over the line.

“The players did their best and I’m philosophical about the result – we have to remember that we’re in a good position in the league and keep on pushing forwards.”

The visitors took the lead when defender Prosser reacted sharply to Colchester’s first corner, looping a right-footed effort over the head of Dons goalkeeper Lee Nicholls for his first goal of the season.

John McGreal’s side held on for an impressive victory that keeps them firmly in third and cut the gap on MK Dons, immediately above them in second, to just two points.

McGreal did not think the result represented a blow struck in the promotion race, but merely a rapid response to last weekend’s 4-0 defeat at Carlisle.

“It’s no more than three points for us and I don’t want us to get carried away with the result, it was a good response from my players from Carlisle,” he said.

“We’d worked on that corner routine during the week and we’re up there as one of the leading teams in terms of goals scored from set pieces this season.

“They had some opportunities and they hit the side netting just before we scored, but we adapted our shape and personnel and managed to see the game out in the end.

“It’s three points and nothing else has been won. Yes, we have come away from a top of the table side and won the game but we’re up there with them as well.

“Last week’s game was out of character for us and it was pleasing to put that right.

“Luke Prosser felt really down last week, but with him being the skipper he was right at it at the start of this week and he more than deserved to get the winning goal.”