Dons manager Roberto Di Matteo said the controversial dismissal of Flavien Belson was the turning point as Bournemouth knocked them from the Johnstone's Paint Trophy.

The holders were eliminated at the second round stage by a solitary second half goal by former England midfielder Darren Anderton at stadiummk.

But it was the straight red card shown to Frenchman Belson for a challenge on Brett Pitman a minute after half-time that irked the Dons Italian boss.

He said: "My view is that it wasn't a sending off, it was a very harsh decision from the referee and by that decision he had an impact on the game which he should try not to have.

"Yes it was a foul, maybe even a yellow card but in my opinion it was never a red card. It was vicious and he didn't hurt the boy.

"We'll have a look at the video and see what the situation is.

"The result is disappointing but the boys fought and tried and there were a few chances where we could have gone ahead but it wasn't meant to be.

"In the first half we had control of the game and I just wanted to push on a bit more after half-time. But we didn't have the chance because two minutes in the referee sent off one of our players.

"MK Dons won this competition last season and we wanted to defend the cup so it's a bit of a shame we have gone out but we always seem to have these controversial decisions go against us here."

Bournemouth's winner was a slightly fortuitous one, veteran Anderton diverting Danny Hollands' long-range shot past a wrong-footed Nathan Abbey.

And Di Matteo said there was nothing his goalkeeper could have done to prevent it.

He said: "I don't think Nathan could have made a save there - it was an innocuous shot from 25 yards which was deflected by one of their players. It was probably quite a lucky goal for them."

Further reaction from Roberto Di Matteo to come on Dons World on Wednesday.