MK Dons manager Mike Williamson is encouraged by how his players found a way to defeat Crawley 2-0 despite not being at their best for long periods of the game.
The Dons’ superb turnaround in fortunes since Williamson’s appointment in October continued as they recorded their fourth win in a row to move up to sixth in League Two.
They are also unbeaten in nine league games, although they sometimes rode their luck against Town and needed goalkeeper Craig MacGillivray to make several important saves after Joe Tomlinson’s early opener.
Williamson said: “He was excellent tonight. In previous games he’s done really well and tonight he was called upon more than we would have liked, but that’s what we need.
“We need players to step up and in games that aren’t so lively, they’ll do what they need to do, but when it comes to games like tonight, he was tested and he came through.
“[Getting the result tonight] is huge, a real testament to them and it’s a sign of a good team that when we’re not at our best we still find the way.
“I think the quality was there to see when we did dominate the ball and the territory, but we had to suffer and I think the boys dealt with that well.
“I think we could have had a few more, looking back, but with the whole thing taken into context we’re more than happy to take that result.”
MK Dons led after just two minutes when Max Dean’s superb pass put Tomlinson through and he finished confidently beyond Crawley goalkeeper Corey Addai.
The result was finally settled with eight minutes left when Alex Gilbey’s shot found the net via the post before Crawley defender Laurence Maguire was sent off for a second booking late on.
Crawley boss Scott Lindsey said: “I thought we played so, so well. The effort the lads put in was incredible.
“We’ve had illness through the camp, the coaching staff are ill and Nick Tsaroulla was prepared to play but fell ill and didn’t travel, so we had to make changes before the game.
“But the effort the players put into that game tonight was outstanding, the way we passed the ball, the way we pressed.
“The chances, we get into that final third and it’s just that last bit where we can definitely improve on.
“We got into that final area brilliantly, but then we sometimes tried to walk the ball over the line when I think we can pull the trigger and shoot and if the keeper spills it, someone else is there to tap it in.
“I think we can be a little more aggressive when we get in there.”
Postecoglou impressed by Tottenham resilience after early red card
Ange Postecoglou was impressed by his side's resilience after they responded to an early red card by beating Qarabag 3-0 in their Europa League opener.
Spurs were dealt a blow as kick-off was delayed by 35 minutes due to travel disruptions in North London, and once the game started, Radu Dragusin was given his marching orders just seven minutes in for a last-ditch tackle, receiving Spurs' earliest-ever European red card.
However, goals from Brennan Johnson, Pape Sarr and Dominic Solanke turned the tide, even as Qarabag missed a penalty and had a late goal disallowed.
Postecoglou was underwhelmed by Spurs' slow start to the game but could not fault their performance after going down to 10 men.
"[The red card was] not ideal," Postecoglou told TNT Sports. "I wasn't happy as I felt we started really sloppy. We talked about starting with a high tempo, and it was almost like the delay got to us.
"We were passive in our passing and when that happens, someone switches off.
"The reaction after that was good, but I'm not happy with the start.
"Brennan's [goal] was great. With 10 men, we still pressed, which is what we wanted to do.
"[Johnson] has some confidence in him, which is great - we need him! We knew if we win [the ball], Brennan and Sonny [Son] would have the space."
Solanke scored for the second consecutive game for Spurs and was one of the key players as he had two shots, both of which were on target, accumulated 0.99 expected goals and had four touches in the opposition box, more than anyone else on the team.
Postecoglou was particularly pleased with how he led the line, especially as he continues to recover from an early-season injury.
"He has been great for us, Dom. He went through that long drought of two games without a goal!" Postecoglou added.
"He has been fantastic for us, not just goals, but his link-up plays. He is a typical striker.
"He is still working his way back to full fitness."
Solanke himself, though, was just pleased to kick off their European campaign and secure a third-straight win in all competitions.
"Very happy to get the win, the boys fought hard," he told TNT Sports.
"Going down to 10 men it could have been a difficult game, but we all stuck to the game plan, and it shows the spirit of the team."
Arsenal overturn first-leg deficit to reach Women's Champions League group stage
Arsenal booked their place in the Champions League group stage after overcoming a first-leg deficit to beat Hacken 4-0 at Meadow Park.
The first leg in Sweden threw up a shock 1-0 defeat, but Jonas Eidevall's side were up to the task, with Lia Walti and new signing Mariona Caldentey turning the scoreline on its head in the first half.
A brilliant strike from Beth Mead then ensured their progress, before substitute Frida Maanum added some more gloss to the scoreline late on.
The Gunners produced a much better performance in front of goal than in the reverse fixture. Arsenal may have had fewer shots on Thursday (14) and failed to convert any of their four big chances, but the emphatic scoreline is what matters most.
They join fellow Women's Super League side Manchester City in the draw, with Gareth Taylor's side cruising past Paris FC.
Their job was all but done after a crushing 5-0 win in the first leg, but Khadija Shaw's double, following Chloe Kelly's early opener, secured them an 8-0 aggregate win.
With another clean sheet under their belt in the competition, City have reached the group stage for the first time since 2020-21, when they fell to Barcelona in the quarter-finals.
There was more despair in the French capital as Paris Saint-Germain, last season's semi-finalists, suffered a shock defeat to Juventus.
PSG have reached at least the quarter-finalists in each of the last five seasons and were mainstays in the competition, but after suffering a 3-1 loss in Turin, their hopes of a comeback were soon squashed.
Sofia Cantore scored just two minutes in to set Juve on course for a 2-1 victory in the game, and a 5-2 aggregate scoreline, getting their name in the hat for the first time in two years.
Elsewhere, Real Madrid secured their place in the competition, as did Celtic, who will play in the Champions League group stage for the first time since it was introduced in 2020-21 after a 3-0 aggregate win over Vorskla Poltava.
And a special mention for Roma, who emphatically brushed aside Servette 7-2 in the second leg to secure a 10-3 aggregate victory.
Tottenham 3-0 Qarabag: Postecoglou's side win Europa League opener despite early red card
Ten-man Tottenham recovered from an early setback to start their Europa League campaign with a commanding 3-0 victory over Qarabag.
Despite Radu Dragusin's early red card, goals from Brennan Johnson, Pape Sarr and Dominic Solanke helped Ange Postecoglou's side to a third straight win in all competitions.
Just seven minutes had elapsed when the hosts were reduced to 10 men as last-man Dragusin dragged down Juninho after he was caught in possession.
However, Spurs responded brilliantly to take the lead just five minutes later, with Solanke stealing possession and feeding Johnson, who applied a neat first-time finish.
The hosts survived a scare before the break when Juninho steered wide from Elvin Cafarquliyev's cross but doubled their advantage seven minutes after the restart when Mateusz Kochalski helped a corner into the path of Sarr, who instinctively volleyed home.
Qarabag squandered a great opportunity to halve the deficit just before the hour mark when Toral Bayramov's penalty hit the crossbar after Yves Bissouma tripped Cafarquliyev.
Tottenham capitalised in the 68th minute as Kochalski parried Son's shot into Solanke's path and he put the game beyond the visitors, who were denied a consolation later on when Juninho's header was disallowed for offside.
Data Debrief: Spurs soar despite Dragusin's historic early bath
It had the potential to be a difficult night for Tottenham when Dragusin was shown a straight red card - Spurs' earliest in a major European match.
The defender also became the first Tottenham player to be sent off on his European debut.
Spurs recovered to take control of the contest, though they survived a scare when Bayramov hit the bar with Qarabag's first missed penalty in the Europa League after six consecutive successful kicks.
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