That's why MK Dons are where they are - Martin

Russell Martin said his side will not climb the table if they continue to concede goals like the ones scored by Gillingham on Tuesday night.

While Dons strung together 55 passes to score their opener, Gillingham capitalised with two long-throws and a defensive mistake to claim the win at Priestfield - Dons' sixth defeat in eight visits.

Having conceded late against Oxford at the weekend, and eight in two games prior to Tuesday night's trip to Kent, Martin's side have dropped from 11th to 15th in League One.

And it's exactly where they deserve to be, said the manager, if they continue to make the mistakes they do.

"You can't come here, put in a performance like that and get beaten by two long throw-ins. It's not good enough," he said afterwards.

"It has to stop, it has to be better. We've conceded really poor goals recently and that hurts. Gillingham have not got near us for long parts of the night. There are lots of things to look at and be pleased with, but you cannot perform like that and lose 3-2.

"We have the potential to be a really good team at this level. It's not normal how we play, they way they come here and dominate. Most teams come here and struggle, it becomes a fight, Gillingham are very good at what they do. But we are beating ourselves and that really hurts.

"We have to find a way. We've given such a good performance but let ourselves down, and that;s why we are where we are. It's those moments which tell us we're not ready to get to where we want to get to. That should hurt the players. If we defend our box better,

"I'm really angry and really disappointed. For such long period, our performance was top, as good as we've been in possession for a long time. That first goal sums it up – I don't think they touched the ball after the kick-off.

"But you come here, put in a performance like that, but we gave them a penalty from a long-throw, their third came from a long-throw too. If we hadn't prepared for that, I would cut the guys some slack but it's a big weapon for them. They were fantastic for so long, but it's three actions.

"Surs and Harry had a mix-up for the second, those things happen so that's fine but the two long throw-ins – we beat ourselves."