Paul Tisdale spoke of his pride when assessing MK Dons' performance against the Premier League leaders Liverpool.
Tisdale's Dons were beaten 2-0 by the UEFA Champions League winning Reds in the third round of the Carabao Cup, despite a spirited showing in front of a Club-record crowd of 28,521 at Stadium MK.
Speaking to the national media after the game, the manager was full of praise for his players, with his only disappointed being that they weren’t able to get a deserved goal.
“I’m very proud of the way they played,” Tisdale said in his post-match press conference.
“It was a really good night for football in Milton Keynes. It’s really hard to enjoy it when you’re in the middle of it, but it was a big night for the Club with it being a full house and there was some really good football on display, sometimes from my team which is great.
“I’m disappointed, for them, that we didn’t score a goal because I think we probably deserved one. Whether we deserved to win the game or not is a different matter, but we deserved a goal.
“[We went] too close. I don’t know how their keeper kept out [Jordan Bowery’s header]. Hey, that’s football.”
He added: “I thought it was a really good night and I think most people here would have enjoyed the game.”
Tisdale also showed support for goalkeeper Stuart Moore who was unable to keep James Milner’s long-range effort out of the net for Liverpool’s opening goal.
“What can you say? It was a mistake and he’s totally disappointed. What can we do about it? We’re certainly not going to debate – he doesn’t need any comments.
“He’s a big boy and I love him to bits and we’ll just have to get on with it and bounce back.”
The Dons are back to reality this weekend as they travel to Sunderland, looking to get back on the winning path in Sky Bet League One. Tisdale hopes they can use the Liverpool experience to benefit them this term.
“I hope so,” he said. “A League One game is a very different sport to what we played tonight, but if we’ve learnt one thing, it’s that we’ve got some good players who I believe will work their way up through the leagues themselves.
“At times, we had a real clarity to our game and it’s amazing how much you can have an impact on the other team, regardless of their level. We managed to do it at times tonight and that bodes well.”
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MK Dons are back in Sky Bet League One action this weekend when they travel to the Stadium of Light to face Sunderland.
Tickets are priced at £20 adults, £17 seniors, £12 under-22s and £7 under-16s. To book tickets click HERE, visit the Box Office at Stadium MK or call 0333 200 5343. Tickets will be available from MK Dons until 5pm on Friday.
