Crosby’s side led for the majority of the game at Prenton Park but let it slip late on

Tranmere Rovers boss Andy Crosby was desperately disappointed after his side threw away a two-goal and a man advantage to draw 2-2 with MK Dons at Prenton Park on Saturday.

Leading through Charlie Whitaker’s first-half brace, the side from Birkenhead looked on course for three points until the final 12 minutes when goals from Jon Mellish and Kane Thompson-Sommers saw Paul Warne’s side turn the game on its head, either side of Jonathan Leko’s second yellow card to see the visitors end the game with ten men.

Crosby, speaking afterwards, admitted his side must be better at seeing games out when they are in charge as they were in the latter stages of the game, with the draw leaving a bitter taste in the mouth at full-time.

“We’re desperately disappointed,” he said. “When you go 2-0 up, and even at 2-1 they lose a man, it’s doubly disappointing.

“When we get ourselves 2-0 up and in control of the game, which was frantic and frenetic from both, we tried to be positive. We tried to maintain a freshness, we changed things but conceded from a corner which we had first contact on.

“At 2-1 we have to learn to manage the moments and stages in a different way. The scoreline means we walk away really disappointed with a point because of how the game played out.

“Going into the game, we knew it would be a challenge based on their ambitions, but I don’t think we’re too far away. We’re getting closer, but it’s stages and moments in games we have to improve. If we want to climb the table, we have to improve that side of the game.”