NEILSON’S THANKS TO GREAT BRITTAIN
CALLUM BRITTAIN netted his first senior goal to salvage a draw for MK Dons as Oxford’s winless league run stretched to three games.
Rob Hall scored early on for the visitors against his former club but Brittain, a 19year-old academy graduate, smashed home on the stroke of the hour to rescue a point for the Dons, who have suffered their worst start to a season since their formation in 2004.
And Dons boss Robbie Neilson, who was sent to the stands late on for allegedly booting a water bottle at fourth official Chris O’Donnell, said it is time for his side to kick on and find some form.
“In the first 20 minutes, we found it very difficult,” he admitted. “But after that, we controlled a lot of the game, were the better team, and could have gone on and won it.
“I couldn’t ask any more of the players after the first 20 minutes. It was a pleasing performance for us and hopefully we can start to build some form on the back of this.
“Attacking-wise, they have a lot of options up front and a lot of pace too, so we had to change what we were doing and then we were able to take more control of the game.
“Callum Brittain is a huge prospect for us and I said before I came in that I thought this was the kid with a lot of potential. He wants to work hard and he has the right attitude.”
The visitors created their early opener after a couple of neat touches between Jack Payne and goalscorer Hall found the former MK winger in space on the edge of the hosts’ penalty box before he curled his left-footed strike into the far corner.
And despite being second-best throughout the first half, the Dons almost snatched a surprise leveller when Peter Pawlett’s precise cross found Aaron Tshibola at the back post before his attempt flew inches wide of goal. MK’s leveller came in superb fashion on the stroke of the hour as Brittain cut inside onto his left foot before finding the net with a powerful drive into the bottom corner to salvage a point for the hosts.
“When you have a lead of one goal and you have a really strong first half, then you have to be able to retain the level of performance we had into the second half as well,” said Oxford boss Pep Clotet.
“Although we feel we could have done better in the second half, we have to consider the value that the team has put into the game to get a point too.
“We are a little bit disappointed that we didn’t end up winning the game but the way that we got this point, by playing really good football; it showed what the team is capable of doing.”
“The team is showing a really good level in most spells of the game and we are starting to have those spells for a little bit longer – we finished very strongly and created a number of good chances and overall, we’re happy with a point.”