MK Dons' defeat at Portsmouth leaves manager Russell Martin feeling sick, fed up and angry

The Dons manager wasn’t being disrespectful to his hosts, who have lost just once on home soil in the league since May 2019 and have left many teams disappointed by their PO4 experience.

However, he would be justified in feeling queasy looking at the final scoreline, with the hosts dominating all the key match stats bar the one that counts – goals scored.

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MK Dons bossed the game as they enjoyed 71 per cent possession, had 19 shots in total compared to the Blues’ four, hit double figures for corners as the hosts registered five, and had six shots on target.

That was four more than Kenny Jackett’s side, who scored from their two efforts directed towards keeper Lee Nicholls’ goal – Tom Naylor’s second-minute header and Ellis Harrison’s 23rd-minute penalty.

Yet it wasn’t enough to earn the visitors, who remain bottom of the table, their first league win of the season.

Afterwards Martin admitted he was ‘fed up and angry’ as seeing his side’s efforts go unrewarded.

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However, he believes more can be done in both boxes to avoid further disappointment moving forward.

The MK Dons boss said: ‘I'm fed up with being angry.

‘I'm really hurt by us keeping losing.

‘Teams are working harder to stop us but we're putting ourselves into a position we fought so hard to get out of last season.

‘We've dominated, we've been the better team but we haven't won.

‘We gave them a headstart, got back in it and gave away a penalty.

‘I'm not sure about the decision but we gave them the chance to do it.

‘We had 19 shots away from home, eight in the box, numerous on target, but we give away two shots on target and concede two. I don't understand it.

‘There is nothing wrong structurally or tactically because we dominate every game, we have more shots than the opposition, but we cannot defend key actions in our box.

‘And then for as much as we created, we haven't got that killer instinct.

‘Both boxes are letting us down.

‘That comes down to mentality or desire, intensity. It's something we've worked on all week, which makes it even more hurtful. I feel sick, and really low.’

He added: I trust the players but we have to be honest – that's not good enough.

‘I'm emotional about it, I feel raw and they are letting themselves down.

‘I don't know how much more they can do to try and win a game. They have to stop giving teams a headstart. It's crazy.’

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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