Rochdale 'lost control' against Dons

Carlton Morris' early second half header cancelled out Eoghan O'Connell's opener, before a stoppage time penalty from Rhys Healey made it 2-1 to Dons at the death.

Rochdale were made to look the better of the two sides in the first half as Dons' struggled to get to grips with the game. But a second-half enslaught left Dale boss Barry-Murphy resigned to defeat.

“If we’re being totally honest with ourselves tonight, and that dressing room is a very honest place, we weren’t in any real control in the second half," he said.

“Towards the end of the game it felt like a basketball match, in that we’ll attack then they’ll attack. Credit to MK Dons for that, they really went for the jugular and went for the win. We had no real sense of control and as a result we conceded a late goal against us.

“I think it’s disappointing to concede at any time. I thought our football up to the point we scored was exceptional and we started the game really well.

“We never managed to build on our goal and I thought the way we started the game would have led to a lot more chances than it did.

“We didn’t build on that and from the moment the second half kicked off, I thought MK Dons were in the ascendency. We found it difficult to stem that flow.

“Even though we lost, I don’t think we can have any real qualms with the result today.”