Paul Tisdale was pleased with how his MK Dons side responded to being pegged back by Forest Green Rovers on Saturday and then went on to secure a valuable three points in dramatic fashion.
Tisdale’s men led at the New Lawn courtesy of a first-half finish from Kieran Agard but former Dons man George Williams levelled the scores with a header shortly after the hour mark.
In response, the Dons boss introduced Chuks Aneke and Robbie Simpson from the bench and switched to a front three, and that attacking approach was rewarded with a winning goal in the final three minutes of regulation time.
“I don't think it was quite an out-and-out gamble,” Tisdale said in his post-match press conference when asked about the attacking substitutions.
“There is a point in a game when you have to speculate. It was a decision we made, but I trust the players to know what they are doing. There was enough structure and consideration, so well done to the players.”
He continued: “We edged the first half and we were deserving of [the lead]. In the second half, Rovers changed and it affected our pattern and it put us on our heels at bit - you have to expect that, they had the right to change.
“It's a shame they scored the way they did. It was 1-1 with 25 minutes to go but with Chuks and Robbie Simpson we thought we'd go for it.
“The winner looked like a bit of a shemozzle but tracing through it, there were enough players doing the right things. It might look an untidy goal but there was enough going on to get the ball in there.”
Saturday’s result lifted MK Dons up to second in the Sky Bet League Two table, three points clear in the automatic promotion places with six games left to play.
“Winning is what it's all about,” Tisdale added. “It keeps us where we need to be.
“Sometimes we win, others lose, but we won't be too up or down. We have confidence and it will be a very interesting game next week, but there are six games left, with plenty of action to go.”