Robbie Neilson hopes the success over AFC Wimbledon can be the springboard MK Dons need to climb up the Sky Bet League One table.
Dean Bowditch’s 63rd-minute penalty on Saturday earned the men from MK1their first home triumph of the campaign – one which lifts them further clear of the bottom four and closer to play-off pack.
“I’m delighted,” Neilson told MK Dons PlayerHD. “I’m delighted for the players, the staff, the fans and everyone here.
“Football is about winning matches and to do that you need to work hard – to a man, I thought the lads did that. The guys gave everything, put their bodies on the line and managed to get a great result.
“Hopefully it gives us a springboard to push on. It’s been a long time since we won at home and hopefully that’s a catalyst for us to push forward.
“It’s all about winning games for us and winning the next one and the next one. The players will be in (Sunday) morning and we’ll prepare because we’ve got a big game on Tuesday night in the FA Cup.”
Not only did the Dons secure a vital three points, they also kept their seventh clean-sheet of the season against an AFC Wimbledon side who had scored in all-but four of their league fixtures heading into the game.
Neilson was delighted with his side’s resilience, commenting: “I was pleased. I thought the back four were excellent – to a man they all put a shift in.
“We’ve been a very expansive team from what I’ve seen. At times that can be great but it’s important to have a balance of being expansive when you have the ball but also have that grit and resilience when the opponents have the ball to not give anything up – we did that today.”
Bowditch was Saturday’s match-winner, handling the pressure by confidently slotting home his spot-kick in front of the Cowshed – Neilson had no doubt in his number 9.
“It’s huge pressure in these types of games but he’s a good player and he’s experienced. When he steps up from 12 yards, I expect him to score and he did.”
“I’m delighted,” Neilson told MK Dons PlayerHD. “I’m delighted for the players, the staff, the fans and everyone here.
“Football is about winning matches and to do that you need to work hard – to a man, I thought the lads did that. The guys gave everything, put their bodies on the line and managed to get a great result.
“Hopefully it gives us a springboard to push on. It’s been a long time since we won at home and hopefully that’s a catalyst for us to push forward.
“It’s all about winning games for us and winning the next one and the next one. The players will be in (Sunday) morning and we’ll prepare because we’ve got a big game on Tuesday night in the FA Cup.”
Not only did the Dons secure a vital three points, they also kept their seventh clean-sheet of the season against an AFC Wimbledon side who had scored in all-but four of their league fixtures heading into the game.
Neilson was delighted with his side’s resilience, commenting: “I was pleased. I thought the back four were excellent – to a man they all put a shift in.
“We’ve been a very expansive team from what I’ve seen. At times that can be great but it’s important to have a balance of being expansive when you have the ball but also have that grit and resilience when the opponents have the ball to not give anything up – we did that today.”
Bowditch was Saturday’s match-winner, handling the pressure by confidently slotting home his spot-kick in front of the Cowshed – Neilson had no doubt in his number 9.
“It’s huge pressure in these types of games but he’s a good player and he’s experienced. When he steps up from 12 yards, I expect him to score and he did.”
