MK Dons boss Paul Warne was pleased with his side’s work as they registered a 3-1 victory over Crewe Alexandra at Stadium MK.

Will Collar and an Alex Gilbey double did the job for Warne’s side, who have now won four matches in a row in League Two to rise up to second place in the table.

Speaking after the match was done, Warne said he was very pleased with his side’s display in grabbing goals at key moments to get the job done.

He said, “We’ve just go to win the game, put it to bed and move onto the next one. I do think we can play better at times but then in fairness, when you’ve got a lead, the opposition just keep coming at you and they have nothing to lose. Mostly, what they asked us, we had pretty good answers. We just got a bit more control midway through the second half where I just felt we needed to take an extra pass and stay on the bill a bit.

“We got the goals at good times. There’s no bad times but I’m pleased with the lads. I think they worked really hard today. In fairness to Crewe, they’re younger, possibly fitter, which kills me to say, they’re mobile, stretched us and asked questions at times, but the lads hung in there and come the end of the season, hopefully they’ll be 3 big points.”

Four wins in a row in the league have lifted Warne’s side into second position in the table, but while Warne said he wasn’t getting carried away, he said he was pleased the team were gelling nicely in a system with three at the back, which they had deployed in recent weeks for this run.

He said, “You don’t get promoted in October and have just go to keep going. The system suits the lads a little bit and they look a little more assured, while the lads out of the team through injury or bad form are now brushing at my door to get back in. But I think they’re performing at a pretty reasonable level.

“Even 4/5 weeks ago, I wasn’t stressed out and thought we’d get there eventually. It takes time and we had a lot of change of staff and players and by all means, I don’t think we’ve sussed it. But I do think we look pretty strong in most of the games and the last 4 we’ve won, we’ve been more than handsome for the win, which is great news.”

He said, “It’s working at the moment, however, the next game night not need that and might need a 4-3-3, plus I’ve got people like Rush (Rushian Hepburn-Murphy) and that desperate to get back in the team. It’s about picking a system that wins games. It isn’t about my ego or my coaches’ egos, it’s about how we think we can win the game, what shape suits us the best, who’s in form or available and what the opposition do.

“Fortunately, in the last few weeks, our system and the lads’ performances have contributed to wins, which is great.”

The Dons’ win came on a weekend where several of the teams around them suffered defeats, and Warne said it reflected that League Two would continue to be a chaotic one for the remainder of the campaign.

He said, “There’s been some crazy results today and if anything sums up this league, it’s if you look today. There’s been a lot of sendings off and a lot of freak results and it seems like anyone can beat anyone on their day. For us to go on this little mini-run is great. I do think we can play better, but maybe an optimist, a purist or chasing unicorns, but at the end of the day, we won, this game’s done and I don’t think we have any injury concerns.

”Generally, I’m pleased for the lads. It was a lot of work today.”