MK Dons’ Head Coach Scott Lindsey accepted his team were beaten by the better side as they lost to Notts County on Boxing Day.

Goals by George Abbott and Dan Crowley decided the contest at Stadium MK, consigning MK Dons to a third defeat in a row.

Speaking after the game, Lindsey said that the opposition were very good but felt the goals came from moments they could’ve done more to prevent and that they failed to take advantage of their own chances.

He said, “If I’m going to be really honest, which I will be, we came up against a better side today.

“I thought they were excellent. That’s where we need to get to – that level. We’ve got to give the opposition some credit. I felt that we worked really hard to block up. The defensive shape was really good at times and we made it hard for them, but in two moments, we give them far too much respect and room.

“I just said to the players that when you’re up against a good side like that, the minute you give two really good players room, they’ll punish you and we got punished in two moments. I thought the second goal was a bit of erratic play by ourselves. We boot the ball up the pitch when we could probably settle down and be calm in the moment, ball turns over, they attack again, Dan Crowley gets so much room – too much room for me. So we’re disappointed with that.”

Lindsey said he felt his side had their moments in-between the two Notts County goals but said the team were punished for not converting it and for erratic play that lead to the second strike.

He said, “When it was 1-0, I felt we were in a good place. We tested their keeper on a number of occasions in that moment. I felt as if we were the team that looked like we were going to score next. It wasn’t to be but I can’t fault my players’ effort, we’re just not up to that level yet but we will be.

“I said that I felt that at 1-0, we were in a good place and we were the next team to score, but we were erratic with our play, turn the ball over, they go down the other end and we give them far too much respect and room. When the second goal comes in, it’s a real mountain to climb. But we come up against a better team than us today to be really honest about that. Their manager’s had a lot more time than I’ve had with my group.

“We’ll get there but we have to react really positively because we have another game in a couple of days time. It is what it is.”

The Dons’ next contest sees them welcome Crewe as part of the quickfire Christmas rush, and having lost three games in a row, Lindsey briefly reflected that the team want to get back to winning ways as soon as possible.

He said, “The good news is the next game is soon and we can’t wait to get back out there and put it right.”