Dons manager Paul Ince said he was proud of his injury-hit side as they went out of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy fighting at Southampton.

Missing a host of first team regulars including several central defenders and strikers Jermaine Easter and Sam Baldock, the Dons put in a courageous shift at St Mary's, but were unable to advance to their second Wembley final in three seasons.

Rickie Lambert's early finish and an unfortunate own-goal from Danny Woodards had the Dons 3-0 down on aggregate after half-an-hour, but they did hit back before the break through Mark Randall.

Ince's side battled and scrapped for a route back into the tie in the second half, but their fate was sealed two minutes from time when Adam Lallana fired in from close range.

Ince said after the game: "You can't ask any more from the team we put out. When you lose your centre-halves and two forwards that have scored 27 goals between them it's always going to be difficult.

"But we went out there and gave it our best against a very good Southampton side with more resources than us, and I think it showed.

Dons players look on as Southampton celebrate.

"For the first goal we didn't deal with Lambert in the air or contest the second ball, the second could have gone anywhere and the third one the 'keeper's got to hold. So the three goals could be put down to us really.

"At 2-1, I thought if we could get another one early in the second half we would have a chance. We were on the front foot and their fans were getting a apprehensive, but we needed that goal. In the end we were chasing it and their third makes it game, set and match.

"As much as it's disappointing, I'm extremely proud of the lads. It would have been easy to go in there and start pointing fingers at people, but every one of them today was different class.

"My teams will never go down without a fight, even when they made it 3-1 we were still out there fighting and that's a good sign.

"You know this team is never going to give up, on another day we might have had one or two more decisions go our way, but now we have concentrate on getting into the play-offs."

More reaction from Paul Ince to come on MK Dons Player.