Paul Tisdale praises MK Dons teenager Dylan Asonganyi

Posted Wednesday, August 15, 2018 by PA

MK Dons boss Paul Tisdale hailed the performance of teenager Dylan Asonganyi after he scored his first goal for the club in the 3-0 win over Charlton.

The 17-year-old academy graduate, who made his first senior start against Bury on Saturday, found the net after just seven minutes, before Ryan Watson added a second and Addicks defender Jo Cummings converted into his own goal late on.

Tisdale believes the Carabao Cup first-round win will only add confidence to his fast-improving squad and praised the professional performance.

“I’m really pleased for Dylan Asonganyi to score his first goal for us,” said Tisdale. “We know he’s a goalscorer and he still has a lot to learn in other parts of his game.

“I’m really pleased with the commitment and focus I asked of the players and to get the win is lovely.

“We generated some energy and confidence and we got some out of them in terms of developing the team and today was an important part of that development. It takes us into another league with a win and creates that confidence.

“We still have a lot of work to do and it’s early days. It’s a great start to the season and I’m pleased so far with how things are going because I’m learning more about the players and what they can do, which is important – we’re making progress week by week.”

Asonganyi pounced on a loose ball in the visitors’ final third for his opener after seven minutes, before running through on goal and coolly slotting home into the bottom corner.

Watson doubled MK’s lead after 16 minutes when he sailed unchallenged through the Charlton midfield, before picking out the bottom right corner with a curling effort from just outside the box.

Tisdale’s men fortuitously rounded off a comfortable victory midway through the second half when MK’s Callum Brittain saw his cross deflect off the thigh of Addicks defender Cummings and into his own net as the Dons caused a first-round upset at Stadium MK.

Charlton assistant manager Johnnie Jackson said: “I think the young lads worked really hard but ultimately their inexperience was undone I think.

“We started off showing them far too much respect and showed a little bit of stage-fright at times and then we find ourselves 2-0 down.

“We conceded poor goals and then we gave ourselves too much to do at half-time – we gave them some harsh words, but this is a massive learning curve for them because it’s their first taste of senior football.

“It’s a tough one for them and we’ve given them a pat on the back for their efforts but that’s all they’re going to get, because ultimately we’re now out of the cup and some of them might not get an opportunity for a while.

“Circumstances have forced our hand a little bit tonight in terms of selection because of the size of our squad and with the injuries we have – we can’t afford anymore now, and it would have been a big risk to put our senior lads out.”