Robbo laments late leveller as Dons are pegged back by Boro

Dons boss Karl Robinson dismissed claims that it was a decent point for his side after watching Jordan Rhodes head home an injury-time equaliser for table-topping Middlesbrough at Stadium:MK on Tuesday night.
MK Dons manager Karl Robinson. Photo by Simon DaviesMK Dons manager Karl Robinson. Photo by Simon Davies
MK Dons manager Karl Robinson. Photo by Simon Davies

Robinson’s side looked set to add a vital three points to their tally through Dean Bowditch’s first half strike, but new signing Rhodes pounced at the death for Boro to pay back a chunk of his £9m price tag.

Speaking after the game, a frustrated Robinson said: “I wanted to win before the game, but that’s just me being me. Somewhere inside me there’s a brain saying ‘that’s a good point’ but I’m not that clever. I want to win, I don’t like not winning.

“But when I wake up tomorrow morning, the first thing I will think is that I haven’t let my football club down, which is all you can ever ask.”

Despite his disappointment at Boro’s late leveller, the Dons boss was full of praise for his side, whose point moved them ahead of Bristol City on goal-difference into 20th place in the Championship table.

“When you see the squad list that they (Middlesbrough) have, it’s scary, but I thought my players were excellent today and I couldn’t ask for any more,” said Robinson.

“I thought maybe we scored a little bit too early against one of the best teams in the league and in the first half we looked a little bit edgy.

“In the second half they had two guilt-edged chances, but I thought ours were equally as good so I think both managers will be coming away feeling a bit disappointed.

“We are a team who should have been relegated – or so people keep saying – but we are still fighting against a team who has just gone top.”

Robinson felt his side deserved more from the game, and was adamant that referee Andy Davies had missed a clear penalty on Josh Murphy.

“I think one individual has cost us again, and that’s the man in the middle,” he said. “Josh Murphy should have had a blatant penalty in the first half, and he’s looking right down the line at it.

“He’s touched it to one side, gone down the outside, the ball’s not out of play and he has been clattered. We didn’t get any decisions today.

“We were the little team on the pitch – that’s what it felt like – but my players really stood up to it.

“Hopefully we will get that little bit of luck over the second half of the season.”