Paul Tisdale happy to toughen up MK Dons’ defence

Posted Sunday, October 21, 2018 by PA

Paul Tisdale claims MK Dons’ new-found defensive resilience is the springboard that has helped them move into the top three of League Two following a 1-0 win over Northampton.

Kieran Agard’s first-half strike proved enough for the Dons to overcome Keith Curle’s Cobblers, who proved a tough nut to crack at Stadium MK.

While admitting some frustration that he had endured a nervy afternoon, boss Tisdale was particularly thrilled with the application shown to keep Northampton at bay.

“We started the season with a few topics on our agenda and one of them was toughening up our back line,” said Tisdale.

“It’s about clarity, understanding the value of a clean sheet and strong, decisive defending.

“You have to enjoy defending and they do enjoy it.”

He added: “I just wish we could have scored a second and that would have put me and my team out of our misery.

“We just wanted that second goal to come for us, but it was great to win and I’m so pleased with how we played.

“Fair play to Northampton, though, because they have turned their form on its head and they look like a really gutsy team now.

“They gave us a challenge but I think we deserved it. We defended really well and we played some really attacking football.”

In the final minute of the first half, Agard cracked home after Jordan Moore-Taylor had headed on a corner.

Cobblers goalie David Cornell kept out Joe Walsh, while Jordan Turnbull was forced into a last-ditch challenge to keep the visitors in the contest.

Rhys Healey also fired an effort against the crossbar, but Agard’s goal proved decisive.

Despite seeing his team slip to a first defeat of his reign, which began on October 1, Northampton boss Curle was far from downhearted.

He said: “I’m standing here frustrated, but there are some positives we can take out of the game.

“I think we were showing MK Dons a bit too much respect in the first half, but you have to give them credit.

“We showed in the second half that we can upset teams and I thought we deserved a goal for our effort and endeavour – we flooded the box and got into some good areas.

“We were just lacking that little bit of quality in front of goal and it is my job to coach the team to get that out of them. I know they have it in them.

“Performances are improving with each game and we are still getting an understanding throughout the squad, but that will come.

“The supporters were phenomenal again and they can be very proud of the effort, desire and commitment of the team.”