Head coach Paul Warne spoke after the penalty shoot-out defeat to Oxford United

Penalties are a cruel way to lose a tie but Paul Warne felt MK Dons more than proved their worth after taking Championship side Oxford United right to the wire in the FA Cup third round on Friday night.

Leading through Aaron Collins’ first-half strike, Dons were pegged back early in the second through Will Lankshear as the second-tier side drew level. But Collins, Aaron Nemane and Scott Hogan all had excellent chances to put the game beyond Oxford’s reach, before the shoot-out loomed

Misses for Jonathan Leko and Connor Lemonheigh-Evans ultimately send the U’s into the fourth round draw, but Warne felt his side did themselves proud.

“It’s disappointing, because we wanted to go through and get another draw,” he said. “You never know who you might get.

“The overall performance I really liked. I think we had the edge on the chances, we had to defend a lot of crosses but on the whole we did. We got done with a long throw when they scored but on the whole I don’t think there was much in it. At times, you wouldn’t know which team was which.

“I thought if we could take the game to them and score early on, we would be in reasonable control. I always felt comfortable.

“If we got absolutely smoked, I could come out and say that’s the difference in leagues and levels, but I didn't feel like that at any point. I thought the lads put their bodies on the line, they won the ball back and then tried to pass their way out. I’m pleased for the lads but I’m also heartbroken for them because I don’t think they deserved to lose. It’s bittersweet.”

While Dons have at time struggled against more physical and direct teams in League Two, taking on Championship opponents, albeit a team struggling at the foot of the table, seemed to suit Warne’s side more.

He added: “Against Championship sides, it’s not as random but in League Two, it can be a bit Captain Chaos. It was a nicer game to coach, but if this team was able to get promoted, that felt more like a League One game so it looks like we can compete at that level. We have to get out of this league first though.”