Paul Warne happy as MK Dons' strong second half sees off Bromley

Paul Warne was happier with the Dons’ second half than their first as he saw his side beat Bromley 4-1 at Stadium MK.

The game had been level at half-time after Aaron Collins’ opener had been cancelled out by Mitch Pinnock in two goals in the latter stages of the half.

But a second for Collins followed by goals from Alex Gilbey and Charlie Goode secured a big win for the Dons, who made it three wins in four to continue their run up the League One table after a winless start.

Warne said that while he felt the team’s display at Blackpool was good enough to make it four wins in four, he felt he was content the team’s performance improved over the course of the contest.

He said, “I feel like this has been four games as a little run. I’m still mortified that we didn’t win at Blackpool – I still thought we should’ve taken our early chances and won, and that would’ve been four on the spin, and I know its only ifs, buts and maybes, but we’d have only been three points off the play-offs with a game in hand if I’ve done my maths right.

“It’s amazing how quickly a season can turn with back-to-back maximum points. I thought we were good value for it tonight. I didn’t fully enjoy the first half – I thought we started the game well and then it felt like from a coach’s sort-of viewpoint that the lads thought this would be alright and we could enjoy ourselves and it was a bit flicky and soft and I didn’t enjoy it.

“Perversely I was quite pleased we conceded as I thought the lads needed that shock that if we continued to play like that with a 1-0 lead and they score late on, we wouldn’t have time to come back at it. So I didn’t actually mind, though I know that sounds a bit odd, and then I thought second half, we were more than handsome for the win and the lads can take a lot of credit for that.”

The game was the first meeting of the season of last season’s top two in League One, with Bromley recently dismissing boss Andy Woodman, and Warne said that he knew there would be a tricky game but he felt the result went a step closer to getting his team to the points total he felt the team should have.

He said, “They’ve had a change of manager and their team is quite similar. We’ve strengthened our team but I think we started tonight only three points ahead of them and as well as we’ve done, we only had three points more. Every game gives different questions to the players, especially when the games come thick and fast and the same team is playing Saturday-Tuesday-Saturday-Tuesday. But credit to them and a physical team for what they’re trying to do. I’m just pleased for our group – they train hard, dedicate their lives and I think we’ve been on the rough end of a few results. I don’t think our points total reflects how well we’ve done.”

The victory made it three wins out of four and Warne said that it was a sign the results were matching the Dons’ performances.

He said, “We’ll be judged at the end of the season, or not as the case may be, but the lads are in a good place and the lads hopefully trust what we’re telling them. We’re entitled to say we’ve had great success and the lads in recent weeks have looked good. I’m still frustrated with Blackpool, while Reading was the opposite of tonight – what could’ve gone wrong against Reading did, what could’ve gone right tonight did. It was never a massive issue for us within the stadium.

“I know that sounds weird but I know what we’ve got and if we get them singing and dancing off the same hymn sheet, we give ourselves a chance in every game. We’ve been good in most games this year and it’s nice to get three wins out of four. That’s pretty good form.”