Paul Warne content to see MK Dons progress after Grimsby draw

MK Dons Head Coach Paul Warne said he felt the team’s 0-0 draw with Grimsby was a sign that the team was continuing to develop positively.

Warne spoke after his side’s 0-0 draw with the Mariners at Stadium MK, in a game where the Dons had a decent array of opportunities.

On reflection, Warne said he felt the team’s work was showing that they were taking on board his methods while still thinking there were things to develop.

He said, “It was a step in the right direction. I thought we were a lot better in the final third today – we had more shots, attempts on goal and looked more of a threat on set pieces. I was pretty pleased with that and we defended really well.

“It just felt like one goal would then explode the game as in the other team would go for it a bit more. We were trying to go for it and did everything we could. The pace of the game, I prefer it to be quicker but I don’t make any excuses.”

A note of significance for the game was the final appearance at Stadium MK for Dons captain Dean Lewington, who announced his retirement and the end of a 20+ year playing career earlier this month. Warne praised Lewington both for his long-term legacy with the club and his performance on the day, and said the team’s performance was worthy of helping sign off with a win.

He said, “When Lewie came off, it was like, everyone was pretty emotional and I know that moment myself from when my career ended. So it was fitting possibly we kept a clean sheet, it was just disappointing we didn’t get a win for him.

“Lewie was excellent. Everyone’s knows what a good player he’s been and everyone has been speaking highly of him and so they should – he can pick a pass, he’s a real competitor and I asked the lads to leave everything out there for him, and I think the lads did. So in that respect, I’m really proud of the group.”

Warne said that the project was try to develop the club back towards the level it was at when it reached the Championship in 2015 and that work had begun to see what the team needed to progress next season. He also saw play-off chasing Grimsby as a benchmark.

He said, “Every set of fans wants to see goals and wins. I’m not saying it’s a sleeping giant but I have seen it in great nick when it was in the Championship and seen it really packed, and it’s our job as coaches and players to put on a show people want to watch.

“First and foremost, people want to watch winning teams and it’s our job. It’ll be our job to change what we think we’ve got a bit of a dearth of. I think we need some pace in the team if that’s available.

“I thought the fans were really positive today in fairness. I’d like to think anyone who came today saw a group of players who gave their all trying to win the game and it wasn’t to be. But in fairness the opposition are trying to get in the playoffs – I think before the game started, they were 7th, and I’d like to think we can finish above 7th next year. That’s why we’ve come here. If that’s the benchmark, I thought our lads performed really well.”