Enforced team changes not to blame for Dons’ defeat

Hiram Boateng was a late inclusion in the side after Scott Twine was forced out of the game with Oxford. Boateng scored Dons’ only goal of the game.

The absence ofMo Eisaand Player of the Month Scott Twine were not reasons forMK Dons’ disappointing defeat toOxford Unitedon Saturday, says Liam Manning.

Twine was named League One’s prize winner on Friday morning but alongside Eisa missed the game atStadium MKhaving to follow covid protocols - both decisions coming late in Dons’ preparation for the game.Peter Kiosoalso remained sidelined following the protocols.

After a strong showing in the first 45 minutes though, leading through Hiram Boateng’s fifth of the season, Dons slumped in the second period, conceding to Matty Taylor’s header before a defensive horror-show allowed Mark Sykes to tap into an unguarded net with 11 minutes remaining to win it for the visitors.

Speaking afterwards, Manning refused to blame the late changes for their defeat.

“It shows the depths we have to play against Oxford and dominate large periods of the first half. It's not ideal missing so many,” he admitted.

“I have to give credit to the group for how they responded to the last minute changes and it speaks volumes to our culture that the guys can play they way they did in the first half. We played some terrific stuff and had a lot of control of the game and we were pleased going in at half time.”

The defeat to Karl Robinson’s side leaves Dons now down in ninth spot in League One, dropping two spots having picked up just a point from a possible six this week.

Manning admitted he was disappointed with the return after games against Oxford and Plymouth.

“It has been a tough week, we’d like to have more points than what we got but we learned a lot. We’ve had a day less to prepare than Oxford did and we’ve had a load of people drop out. That plays a part in it being a tough week for the guys. We know we need to be better than we were in the second half.”