Paul Warne pleased with MK Dons' approach to overcome Harrogate

Paul Warne said he was happy with the way MK Dons were able to manage the occasion as they came from behind to beat Harrogate at Stadium MK.

Harrogate had taken the lead through Tobias Brenan’s opener, but a quick Rushian Hepburn-Murphy goal brought the side level, before Luke Offord put the Dons ahead in the final stages of the first half.

Second half goals by Aaron Collins and Ben Wiles secured the result in the Dons’ favour as the home side picked up a victory to make it 11 League Two games unbeaten and extend an unbeaten run in league games at Stadium MK that stretches back to September.

Speaking after the game, Warne said he was pleased in the way the team were able to overcome the challenge.

He said, “I don’t think the scoreline flattered us but if you’d said after 25-30 minutes that we’d win 4-1, you’d be surprised. I’m not being patronising about any team in this league, as every team causes different problems. They’re a really fit young side who can play, can move the ball really well along the box and caused us loads of problems, which I expected. I also had an awful feeling that having a big crowd in and that might make a bit carnival-y, if that makes sense, and I said to the lads beforehand that everyone’s not come here to put rose petals under your feet as you haven’t done anything yet. There’s a long way to go.

“I’m glad they scored when they did because it livened us up a little bit, and within a few minutes we were back in it, then fortunately Offord gets a really good header from a set piece and we go in at half time pleased with the scoreline, but with the same feedback to the lads to keep it simple, win the duels in the middle of the park, win the second balls and move the ball quickly and simply.

“We obviously came out really well, scored a couple of goals and from there the game’s done.”

Warne added that he was also appreciative that despite being bottom of the table, Harrogate’s strengths and a recent run of five games unbeaten would’ve made for more of a challenge than their league position suggested.

He said, “Sometimes, its easy to say we played poorly but I think its fair to say they played really well and I was expecting it. They’re a really good team and their position in the league isn’t what they have been over the last 5/6 games, and no doubt they’ll go from here, win a game, and everyone can text me to tell me I was right, which would be lovely. They’re a good, well-coached and fit team, but we took the chances when we had to and did enough.”

Warne said that the team were pleased results elsewhere went in their favour and said that with a game in hand on league leaders Bromley in midweek, they now had an opportunity to catch the long-time League 2 leaders.

He said, “There’s so many games left but it is good to come off and know not everybody else has won. That’s good.

“We’re trying to catch Bromley and if we can win midweek in a game in hand, then we’re 2 points behind and we still have to play them at home. That’s what we keep trying to say to the lads that we’re trying to get. The higher up the league you can get, obviously, there will be hiccups along the way, so you’ve just got to get the points even if you’re not at your best. I don’t think we were at our best today but if you can put points in your top pocket on days like today, that’s a good sign.”

The game was played to the Dons’ highest crowd of the season so far, with the club putting on a ticket giveaway that saw thousands of free tickets given away to supports and an official attendance in excess of 23,000, for the club’s highest attendance since 2019. Warne said there was a little anxiety that the team could have trouble in front of the bumper crowd, but was happy to get it done in the end.

He said, “In fairness to all MK Dons fans, this is universal throughout the world of anything – when you do anything, its guaranteed, its like a law for it or its a bit typical that we’ve played really well at home, haven’t lost here since September except for Oxford in the cup, we’ve generally been really good at home, we get a massive crowd in and get a 2-0, 3-0 cracking to the bottom team, and everyone wonders what the fuss is about. I did have that in the back of my head.

“Everyone I’ve seen this week has been excited about it and saying it’ll be great. It’s about the team winning first and foremost for me, and when they scored, it did have that element and I won’t say I didn’t feel the same pain as everyone else in the stadium.

“But we had that sort of feeling at half 4 on a Saturday when the team were playing well, everyone seems quite content and it was a nice memory for me and my family to be part of it.”