MK Dons manager Mike Williamson praised his side’s determination as they leapfrogged Morecambe in the League Two table with victory at the Mazuma Stadium.
Two goals from in-form striker Max Dean, either side of an excellent Joe Tomlinson strike, gave the Dons a 3-1 success after JJ McKiernan had levelled the scores early in the second half for the Shrimps.
Williamson said: “To come here and take three points is a thing in itself but it called upon a lot of areas of our game today.
“At times we showed how good we are in keeping the ball and at other times we had to show our determination.
“We lost control for a bit and it became a bit of a basketball game but the character of the boys came through and to keep going like we did got us the win.
“To come back like we did after they scored so early in the second half was fantastic. We showed some real bravery and I thought the boys were fantastic.”
Morecambe started the game well, with McKiernan sending a looping header inches wide and Jordan Slew seeing a shot superbly blocked by Cameron Norman.
But the visitors, who have been revitalised since Williamson took over from Graham Alexander, struck first as Dean ran on to Alex Gilbey’s defence-splitting through-ball before rounding Adam Smith and scoring.
Morecambe hit back with a McKiernan header from Adam Mayor’s left-wing cross five minutes into the second half and from there the home side looked the more threatening until Tomlinson scored with a well-struck effort from just outside the box that beat Smith to his left.
As the Shrimps pushed for a leveller they left gaps at the back and Dean scored his second six minutes into added time after a Morecambe clearance rebounded kindly into his path to give him the easiest of chances.
Morecambe manager Ged Brannan was unhappy with his side’s performance as they suffered their second home defeat of the season.
He said: “We knew exactly how they would play and we had a game plan but didn’t follow it. In the first half we didn’t press and we didn’t go with runners and they popped us all over the pitch.
“We had to have a really good chat at half-time and we got ourselves back in the game and were pressing really well but when they went ahead again against the run of play we dropped off them again, which was not like us and disappointing.”
Messi 'will be our No.10 in 2026', hopes Inter Miami chief Mas
Inter Miami fully expect Lionel Messi to remain at the club beyond his current contract ahead of the 2026 MLS season.
Those were the words of Miami's club managing owner, Jorge Mas, who was speaking to the media following Gerardo Martino's resignation earlier on Friday.
Messi joined the MLS side in July 2023 on a two-and-a-half-year contract, leading the Herons to the Supporters' Shield and Leagues Cup during his time in the United States so far.
His current deal is due to expire at the end of next year, though Mas made clear his desire to see Messi remain with the Herons at Miami Freedom Park, the club's new stadium that will open in 2026.
"He’s under contract through 2025. Leo and I will sit, and we’ll discuss the future,” Mas said.
“As I’ve said before, and I will repeat it now: I fully expect that in the opening of our new stadium in 2026 in Miami and the opening of our 2026 season, hopefully after a trophy-laden 2025 season, that Lionel Messi will be our No. 10.”
Man United could be without Toone until new year, says Skinner
Marc Skinner revealed that Manchester United could be without midfielder Ella Toone until the new year after she picked up a calf injury in training.
Toone has featured in five games in the Women's Super League this season, but is yet to register a goal or an assist so far this term.
The 25-year-old has missed United's last two games and was not selected in Sarina Wiegman's England squad for their upcoming friendlies against the United States and Switzerland.
She had previously appeared in a staggering 96 straight matches before missing United's WSL showdown with Leicester City last weekend.
But ahead of the Red Devils' meeting with league leaders Chelsea on Sunday, Skinner confirmed they would be without Toone for not only that game, but for the foreseeable future.
"We have three games [after the international break and before Christmas]. There's always the hope, but I think you balance and you go, 'right, if we can get her back, we get her back'," Skinner said.
"But we're just not going to rush her in this moment because it's a calf injury, it's your running mechanism. If we injure the running mechanism, it takes longer.
"So ideally we'd like her back for those games afterwards.
"The projection is she misses this game [Chelsea], she misses the international window, probably misses the first game after that, and then we'll see from there.
"But because it is such a short block of only three games, we'll assess whether it's worth that or actually resetting to come back after Christmas."
Man United could be without Toone until Christmas, says Skinner
Marc Skinner revealed that Manchester United could be without midfielder Ella Toone until the new year after she picked up a calf injury in training.
Toone has featured in five games in the Women's Super League this season, but is yet to register a goal or an assist so far this term.
The 25-year-old has missed United's last two games and was not selected in Sarina Wiegman's England squad for their upcoming friendlies against the United States and Switzerland.
She had previously appeared in a staggering 96 straight matches before missing United's WSL showdown with Leicester City last weekend.
But ahead of the Red Devils' meeting with league leaders Chelsea on Sunday, Skinner confirmed they would be without Toone for not only that game, but for the foreseeable future.
"We have three games [after the international break and before Christmas]. There's always the hope, but I think you balance and you go, 'right, if we can get her back, we get her back'," Skinner said.
"But we're just not going to rush her in this moment because it's a calf injury, it's your running mechanism. If we injure the running mechanism, it takes longer.
"So ideally we'd like her back for those games afterwards.
"The projection is she misses this game [Chelsea], she misses the international window, probably misses the first game after that, and then we'll see from there.
"But because it is such a short block of only three games, we'll assess whether it's worth that or actually resetting to come back after Christmas."
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