MK Dons head coach Paul Warne spoke after his side’s 1-0 defeat to Salford City

Paul Warne admitted he is not remotely surprised that on a day when MK Dons slipped up in the promotion race, their League Two title contenders did as well.

While Dons suffered a second consecutive defeat for only the second time this season, going down to Matt Butcher’s 20-yard strike midway through the second-half at the Peninsula Stadium, leaders Bromley saw their stellar unbeaten run crumble at the hands of Barrow, while Cambridge too lost to Barnet.

It means Notts County’s earlier win over Harrogate moves them back into contention for a top three finish, but for Warne, it was a huge opportunity missed for his side.

“It’s strange isn’t it,” Warne said afterwards. “I watched a lot of the Harrogate and Notts County game and there was nothing in it.

“Amazingly, I’m just not all that surprised. I know what the end of the season is like, how tired everyone is, how everything matters, the pressures at both ends of the table. The next six games for us are not easier or harder than anyone else's, they’ll all be tough. We’ll just have to perform better if we want to go up.”

The game at the Peninsula Stadium was dominated by the conditions, from the swirling wind to the terrible playing surface, it made for an ugly encounter, with low quality football on display from both sides for the most part.

Only Butcher’s 66th minute strike, sweetly picking out the top corner from range, was worthy of note in an otherwise forgettable game, which was compounded for the visitors when Luke Offord was sent off late in the day.

Warne continued: “It was a pretty horrific game. The conditions didn’t help either team. There was wind, low sun, the pitch is one of the poorest I've ever seen at this time of year, and it took it out of both teams. It looked an exhausting encounter. No-one could keep it for more than a pass, and it looked as though it would come down to a mistake or one goal and that’s what it turned out to be.

“I can’t remember either keeper really needing to make a save, so in those sorts of games, you have to take your chances and today we didn’t and were punished for it. We didn’t take our chances when they came along, while they rifled one in from 20 yards.

“We did everything we could to try and win it, we changed shape twice but I think it made us weaker. Unfortunately, the game has dribbled away from us and we have to put it behind us and build for the next one.”