Paul Warne criticises MK Dons' first half display in defeat to West Ham U21s in EFL Trophy

Paul Warne said he was annoyed with his MK Dons’ side for their first half performance in defeat to the West Ham U21s in the EFL Trophy.

The Dons fell 3-0 down to the junior team of the Premier League side at half-time, with West Ham later bagging 2 more in the second half to record a 5-1 win in each side’s first encounter of the EFL Trophy group stage.

Speaking after the game, Warne said he felt that the result was fair and that the first half was ultimately the part of the game that cost his side the most, with Warne labelling his side’s first half “embarrassing” and “horrific”.

He said, “A very fair defeat. I can’t say we were the better team – we definitely were not. Fair play to West Ham – they got among us really quick and every time they broke, it felt like it was going to go in. Every time bar 2, it felt like they did. They picked the right pass and were really clinical.

“I was embarrassed with our performance first half. I didn’t think we pressed with any intensity, didn’t think we tackled or made a foul, and that’s as far from a team I want to witness. Being honest, I just thought we were horrific first half. Second half, I really liked us, but it makes me even angrier because it makes me think they’ve just wasted 45 minutes of their careers.

“I appreciate we’ve got some young players in the team and it’s a good learning curve for them but I just didn’t think we played with any personality in the first half and that was what disappointed me.”

Speaking further about it, Warne felt that the first half was ultimately a display that hurt his team’s hopes of victory.

He said, “We were just disappointing first half. I just don’t think you can give any team at any level any start in any game and regrettably tonight, we did. That’s what disappoints me. I see what’s great in my players all the time and the young lads coming through and feel like collectively, we let ourselves down in the first half.

“At no time in the first half did I feel like we were in the game. We were on the pitch but not in the game. Scoreline aside, we’re always trying to increase performance levels but I didn’t feel like we were really in the game.”

On positives, Warne said he was happy that some players who have not been regular starters or struggled with injury got game time and that he was able to rest all 11 players who started the previous match at Chesterfield, but admitted there weren’t many more positives beyond that.

“The good thing was, which is a nice change, I think we got through the game without injuries. From a league basis, I’ve got players a little bit fitter. It’s nice to get Kane (Thompson-Sommers) back on the pitch – he hasn’t been in great nick.

“I didn’t risk any of the lads who started at the weekend so that was good, and obviously Collins, Aaron got some needed game time. So did Leko, so did Will (Collar). So in that respect, it’s good, but I manage this team, I want to see them win and perform at their best and tonight, for large periods of the first half, we just weren’t.”

Warne also reflected the nature of a team that featured 5 academy graduates, including 3 first-time starters, may have lead to a feeling of unfamiliar partnerships, but that he would not excuse a similarly slow start when the Dons welcome Accrington Stanley to Stadium MK on Saturday.

He said, “I thought we started well at the weekend. I don’t know if its because the team was hosh-kosh with lads that don’t train together and the whole relationship thing made it a little more difficult and maybe as the game went on, they became more comfortable with each other.

“So I don’t think it was an epidemic for us, just that maybe we collectively didn’t start as well. I’d be very disappointed if we started this way on Saturday and the players will be told that when we meet up again for training.”