Late Aneke equaliser thrills boss Tisdale

PAUL Tisdale was happy with a point as he watched his promotion-chasing MK Dons come from behind to earn a draw against Stevenage.

Chuks Aneke’s late strike rescued a point for MK who remain third and in the final promotion place.

Ilias Chair had put Stevenage ahead in the first half with a superb 35-yard strike, which looked like earning the visitors a second straight league win, before Aneke tapped home with minutes left.

Tisdale said: “I am happy with the point because we came back from the setback strong – I thought we deserved to win it. But I am happy.

“I think we put a lot of pressure on them and we have to give them credit because they defended well – I do not have too many grumbles because it is a point gained.

“I have said to the players we have eight games to go and I think this is a positive dressing room – we are not in a bad position.

“I told the players there will be days when we do well and pick up a good result, but in this league, I know there are times when things do not go your way and we have to deal with the ups and downs.”

Dino Maamria’s side started on the front foot and opened the scoring when QPR loanee Chair unleashed an unstoppable strike, which flew past Dons keeper Lee Nicholls and into the bottom corner on the half-hour mark.

Milton Keynes were unlucky not to have levelled things up on the hour mark when Russell Martin was denied by the superb reflexes of Boro keeper Paul Farman, who produced a fine save before watching the ball smack the underside of his bar.

Tisdale’s men did find a leveller after 83 minutes when Martin’s cross fell to the feet of Aneke, who tapped home to save a point. Stevenage boss Maamria was in no doubt that his side should have won the game and taken all three points.

He said: “It is two points lost. We should have won the game because we have had enough chances to win it – but overall it was a very good performance.

“I thought MK Dons were predictable, we congested the middle of the park and stopped them from playing through the middle.

“I feel an injustice as we should have got three points.”