“It should have been eight”: Tomlinson on Dons’ dominance against Bradford

While the scoreboard looked pretty emphatic on Tuesday night after MK Dons’ 4-1 win over Bradford City, goal-scorer Joe Tomlinson felt it could have been double that.

The home side hit the woodwork four times during the course of the game, missed one-on-one chances and came up against an inform Harry Lewis in the Bantams net, who did his best to keep the score down as Dons ended their nine-match win-less run in style.

Tomlinson opened the scoring after just four minutes before Dons were pegged back by Alex Gilliead’s goal against the run of play 12 minutes later. Jack Payne though responded with a stunning strike on the half-hour to restore Dons’ lead.

Max Dean and Alex Gilbey struck in the second-half to earn Mike Williamson his first win in charge of the club, but Tomlinson felt the scoreline should have been even more comfortable than it was.

“It should have been eight really,” he said. “It was a fantastic performance from the boys. I should have had another one too, but it was a good start to settle us down.

“It should have been double the score tonight, but it was a lot of fun and I think we'll only get better.

“I’m really happy with how we’re starting to play under the new gaffer, and his ideas I really believe in, and I think they’ll help us win games.

“We've only really had a couple of training sessions with him, it was fantastic from the boys to do this so quickly.”

While Tomlinson fired in the opener, a few moments later his wonderful right-footed curling strike came back off the post with some, including the person in charge of the goal music, thinking his strike had in fact gone in.

He continued: “I did wonder if they were trying to stitch me up, or for a split second maybe it had gone in! It was tough, I really wanted it to go in. Unfortunately I knew it had hit the post, and it's a shame. But there is more to come from me, I'm just glad I got the chances.

“I've always known I've got that performance in me. It has been a long time coming for myself, for the team, for the boys. I'm delighted to get the goal, the three points and the win.”