By Lee Jelley

Academy director Mike Dove said his Under 18 side had taken a step forward despite a 2-1 to Crystal Palace on Saturday at Woughton.

Mike said that he takes only positives from a game in which the Dons will feel they could have wrapped up in the first 20 minutes, crafting a series of great openings and looking very comfortable on the ball.

After falling behind to Aaron Dalhouse's opening goal and a second half penalty from Nathanial Pinney, Mike's team rallied well and nearly took something from the game after Martel Powell's late screamer.

"They were a big, physical side that we faced today and the players had to work hard for 90 minutes. We deserved our goal and, to be honest, we could have won it as early as half hour into it."

"We changed our shape during the game and this worried them, you could see that because they had to change theirs to cope with us.

"It's a loss but at the end of the day what we are trying to achieve here is development and I am more than happy with the way the lads are progressing, today was a step forward.

"All we lacked today was that little bit of composure in front of goal and in the final third, the movement and the passing to get us in the positions at times was very impressive."

Next up for the young MK Dons is a trip to Ipswich Town on Saturday 13 September.