Tisdale happy with ‘gutsy’ win

Posted Wednesday, August 21, 2019 by PA

Paul Tisdale was proud after his MK Dons side ground out a 2-1 win over Lincoln.

Goals from Callum Brittain and George Williams sandwiched Tyler Walker’s strike to end the Imps’ 100 per cen start, sending Tisdale and his charges home with a huge three points in the bag.

“(Lincoln) were at the top of their game today,” he said.

“In many ways they played a better game than us, but we showed a lot of guts and effort and they were unable to break us down so I am really delighted for the players.

“To get six points on the board for us is really important. It was important we hung on and although they hit the crossbar, I thought we defended particularly well.

“The crowd was brilliant for the last 10 minutes and the team mentioned it so thanks to the fans for that too.

“We are trying to develop the team and part of that is trying to glean goals from all areas of the field – it is not just the strikers that we need to score.

“It was tough (in the) last 20 minutes but my players did enough and tonight we have beaten an extremely good team – so I am really proud of my players tonight.”

The hosts made the perfect response to their weekend defeat at Wycombe when Brittain’s close-range finish put them ahead after just two minutes of play.

Walker converted Jorge Grant’s cross to equalise in what was a frenetic start to the game, before Jordan Bowery’s cross deflected off Williams to put MK ahead for a lead they would not relinquish.

The hosts’ winner drew the anger of Lincoln boss Danny Cowley after the game.

“Their second goal is clearly offside,” he said.

“George Williams is laying still on the goal line – it is categoric. He is not moving and laying on the goal line, then there is a very good chance that you are offside – it is an unbelievable decision and I do not know how he has got it wrong.

“They have had 11 touches in our box during the whole game. We were far too soft in combat and did not defend our box well enough.

“When you concede two goals you give yourself a mountain to climb – you are not a good team if you concede two goals like we have.”