Frustrated boss urges Dons to sharpen up
PAUL Tisdale believes his MK Dons side must discover their clinical edge if they’re to avoid the feeling of frustration that followed their draw with Tranmere.
The Dons have failed to pick up a league win in September, having been held to their fifth stalemate in all competitions at Stadium MK.
They also didn’t manage to build on Chuks Aneke’s firsthalf leveller after Jonny Smith had got Rovers’ noses in front, leaving Tisdale to lament an opportunity sorely missed.
“It doesn’t take an Einstein to work out where we need to improve – taking our chances and making more of our territory,” said the Dons manager.
“I really do believe we are on the right track, but we have to turn these performances into wins.”
Meanwhile, Tranmere boss Micky Mellon thought his team were well worth the point.
“We needed to make a reshuffle after about 25 minutes to get back into the game,” said Mellon.
“MK were getting into areas, and we needed to put players there and combat them, which we did.
“It was a decent game of football. We were very disappointed not to go in at half-time ahead, both with conceding the goal – and the way we did so.
“It was from the last kick of the half. It’s something every manager wants to avoid, but it happens in football.
“But we gave as good as we got in the second half and probably had the better chances.”
Rovers goalkeeper Scott Davies had a mixed first half, twice denying Ryan Healey during an early MK storm before gifting the hosts their equaliser in added time.
Healey had three sights of goal within a hectic opening eight minutes, the last seeing fellow striker Aneke nod against the bar after Davies had denied him.
Lee Nicholls denied Rovers’ leading scorer James Norwood, only for Smith to roll the ball into the empty net.
But Davies left Aneke with a similarly easy task to level the scores when he missed Dean Lewington’s looping cross.
The second period was more evenly contested, with Aneke shooting wide and also testing Davies.
Healey also forced Davies into another acrobatic stop whilst Adam Buxton similarly extended Nicholls at the other end.