Paul Warne’s reaction to MK Dons’ 2-2 draw with Oxford United on opening day

Dons boss Paul Warne admitted conceding late on felt like a defeat but overall, he was pleased with his side’s performance in the 2-2 draw with Oxford United.

Coming from behind to lead 2-1 heading into stoppage time, with Charlie Goode and Aaron Collins cancelling out Mark Harris’ opener, Dons looked on course to three points in their first League One game in three years.

But Cieron Brown’s goal in the fifth minute of time added on ensured Oxford would snatch a point at the death.

Rather than feeling disappointed by it though, Warne said: “If it was down to a lack of effort, lack of organisation I’d leave here disappointed but I don’t.

“As always though, when you concede late, it feels like defeat, but if you score late, it feels like a win. Generally, I’m pretty pleased. Hopefully it’s a sign of things to come, not the last two minutes though.

“Weirdly, I wouldn’t have taken a point at the start of play because I want us to attack the league like we did last year. At 1-0 down though I’d have taken it.

“Their goal came from a bit of fortune when it fell to their centre-forward. But we showed great character, dominated the rest of the first-half, and then in the second, we just needed that third goal.

“We had some gilt-edged chances, Collo hit the posts and Natty was clean through. From a performance point of view, I was really pleased.”

Certainly not fazed by the step up in level, Warne added: “This is the standard of games we will expect this year. They’ve come down, we’ve come up but we’re used to winning. I did think we came in with a mental ascendency, and I did think we’d win here today but it wasn’t to be.

“Last season we drew with Oldham, that was pretty unexciting, so at least this was more exciting. And of course last season we went onto amazing things, so maybe it’s just fate who knows.”