Mike Williamson delighted as ‘brave’ MK Dons see off Morecambe

Posted Sunday, December 24, 2023 by PA

MK Dons manager Mike Williamson praised his side’s determination as they leapfrogged Morecambe in the League Two table with victory at the Mazuma Stadium.

Two goals from in-form striker Max Dean, either side of an excellent Joe Tomlinson strike, gave the Dons a 3-1 success after JJ McKiernan had levelled the scores early in the second half for the Shrimps.

Williamson said: “To come here and take three points is a thing in itself but it called upon a lot of areas of our game today.

“At times we showed how good we are in keeping the ball and at other times we had to show our determination.

“We lost control for a bit and it became a bit of a basketball game but the character of the boys came through and to keep going like we did got us the win.

“To come back like we did after they scored so early in the second half was fantastic. We showed some real bravery and I thought the boys were fantastic.”

Morecambe started the game well, with McKiernan sending a looping header inches wide and Jordan Slew seeing a shot superbly blocked by Cameron Norman.

But the visitors, who have been revitalised since Williamson took over from Graham Alexander, struck first as Dean ran on to Alex Gilbey’s defence-splitting through-ball before rounding Adam Smith and scoring.

Morecambe hit back with a McKiernan header from Adam Mayor’s left-wing cross five minutes into the second half and from there the home side looked the more threatening until Tomlinson scored with a well-struck effort from just outside the box that beat Smith to his left.

As the Shrimps pushed for a leveller they left gaps at the back and Dean scored his second six minutes into added time after a Morecambe clearance rebounded kindly into his path to give him the easiest of chances.

Morecambe manager Ged Brannan was unhappy with his side’s performance as they suffered their second home defeat of the season.

He said: “We knew exactly how they would play and we had a game plan but didn’t follow it. In the first half we didn’t press and we didn’t go with runners and they popped us all over the pitch.

“We had to have a really good chat at half-time and we got ourselves back in the game and were pressing really well but when they went ahead again against the run of play we dropped off them again, which was not like us and disappointing.”