Paul Warne left disappointed as MK Dons fail to get win over Barrow

MK Dons boss Paul Warne was left disappointed after his side drew 0-0 with Barrow at Stadium MK.

The hosts had a majority of chances in the game, but there was no way through for the hosts as Barrow were able to keep a clean sheet and take a point in the aid of their own survival bid.

Speaking afterwards, Warne had particular criticism of the side’s first half, feeling that his side didn’t quite play quickly enough, and felt that there was a sense his side’s attack didn’t quite get things right.

He said, “Disappointed really. I didn’t think in the first half, we were quick enough with our play. It felt a little bit like a testimonial and we acted like don’t worry, a goal was going to come sooner or later.

“We had enough chances to be handsome at half time but I just didn’t think we had enough pace in our play. Second half, I thought we did, but as the clock winds down, and in fairness, their management of the clock was impressive, the pressure keeps increasing and increasing. Understandably, everyone apart from those with a Barrow badge on their kit gets frustrated. I completely get that. If we’re going to be successful, we have to rise above that and handle the pressure.

“That final pass, shot or cross, we didn’t obviously take and it feels like we dropped two points.”

Speaking more about the attacking issues, Warne said that there was a sense the attack didn’t do quite enough to unlock the Barrow backline.

He said, “No one crosses it badly on purpose but we got in so many times in the second half thinking this was the moment and then the ball was too high or their defender got there first.

“Paterson was probably inches away from scoring, Collins is, Joe Tomlinson is, so there were loads. If you got one, you might have got loads, if you know what I mean, even if that sounds a bit rude. I just felt they were tiring, we made as many changes as we could, changed the set-up of the team and tried to freshen it up but unfortunately, we didn’t do enough to win it.”

With only Salford winning of the sides that began the weekend as League 2’s top six, Warne reflected that although his side’s test looked simpler on paper, it was still a tricky test against a side in a tight fight to avoid relegation to the National League.

He said, “Only one team in the top 6 won today. I appreciate that ours on paper looked like an easier fixture potentially, but there aren’t easy fixtures and when you’re playing teams who are fighting for their lives, and they’re fighting really well for the new manager, which they are having beaten Bromley last week and made it really difficult. A clean sheet is a positive, however, I would expect us to get one, although when called upon, the lads did defend really well.

“I only remember one time waiting for the net to ripple, but apart from that, not a lot. They were well marshalled at the back, but I would expect that.”

A quick turnaround waits for Warne’s side, who go again on Easter Monday with a trip to Oldham Athletic, and Warne said that with just 4 games of the season after the trip to Lancashire, the goal now was to make sure the team got over the line.

He said, “If you offered me second with 5 games to go, I’d take it. It would just be nicer to be second after winning today, catching a couple of points on Bromley and getting away from Notts County. Cambridge conceded late last night. It’s difficult to get over the line, potentially.

“I’ve said previously but in the final last weeks last season, I think only Doncaster won more than 2 in the last 5. You’re just playing different teams with different intensities and the lads are aware of it, so our job is to make the lads play at a level that’s difficult for the opposition but not apply too much pressure.

“The lads gave everything second half to try and win it but we need to learn from it and make ourselves better for Monday and not make anything more of it than that. If this was a game in September, we’d come in and go disappointing but we go again next week, but I appreciate the enormity of it now.”