Milton Keynes Dons under-18 coach Mike Dove said Saturday's defeat to Chelsea was an important learning curve in the development of his young side.

The Dons travelled to the Cobham headquarters of the Premiership champions to play a side packed with quality and experience.

And despite a 3-0 reverse, Dove he would rather be playing against these sides than weaker opposition.

He said: "Although we lost, I think the players gain a lot more from these games educationally. I've spoken to a few of the lads since the game and they have all been very thoughtful, very analytical about their performances both individually and as a team.

"Chelsea are a top Premiership club with huge resources so we cannot be too disappointed."

Without a reserve game this week and with senior scholars in need of a game, Chelsea fielded a side without a single schoolboy against a very young Dons side.

In truth the Dons made a decent start, with Adam Moriarty cleverly lifting a cleared corner over his marker before firing in a shot that flew just wide. Liam Kelly followed that with a header from Dean Lovegrove's angled cross that the Chelsea goalkeeper saved comfortably.

But as the home side started to find their passes and the Dons wasted set pieces, counter attacks led to chances and Chelsea's class came through.

A corner from the left came swinging in at pace and Football Icon winner Carl Magnay rose unchallenged to head Chelsea in front.

The Blues had another headed effort chalked off for offside before the Dons failed to make use of another free-kick towards the end of the half.

Dove said: "I talked to the players about being a bit more imaginative with all the free-kicks we were winning. We kept playing 50-yard diagonal balls, it all got a bit predictable and we were getting caught offside.

"It might have paid to have thrown in a short free-kick and up the tempo with some short passing. We needed to show more intelligence while the game was in motion, it can't always come from the touchline.

"Defensively we talked about concentration and making decisions based on what was happening around us. Chelsea are a very good side with excellent movement and lots of creativity, the players needed to respond to it and play with a bit more intelligence."

Chelsea's second came on 53 minutes when Lee Sawyer's deflected shot beat Ryan Flood before Sam Hutchinson, a regular in Chelsea's reserves, made it three on 67 minutes.

"It was a better second half from us," Dove added, "even though we conceded two goals the players had taken on board the criticism and tried to act on it.

"You would have to ask the players if playing at the new Cobham for the first time against Chelsea was something that affected them, but it's all about learning and we will take the lessons into the next game at Cardiff on Saturday.

Dons: Flood, Kent, Thorne, Nash, Collins, Lovegrove, Shuter, Moriarty, Kelly, Koffi (Williams 71), Powell (Delderfield 61). Subs not used: Mitchell-Coop, King, Fox.