Ben Gladwin was left confused and disappointed as his MK Dons side suffered a 3-0 home defeat at the hands of Barrow.

The Dons’ interim boss was left to rue the way things got away from his team as despite having chances, they were beaten 3-0 at home by fellow lower mid-table outfit Barrow, making it three defeats in a row and ten goals conceded.

Gladwin reflected that there were parts that worked but admitted that from the moment they fell 2-0 down, there was not enough to feel positive about.

He said, “We were sat in the office with the rest of the staff for a few minutes as we were just confused. I will always 100% protect the players because I love them all to bits.

“We’re going to try to continue to help but something’s going to have shift because there’s still five games left and a lot of football still to be played.

“The confusing thing is that large portions of the game actually look relatively good with the ball.

“When we go 2-0 down, everything looks horrendous after that and there’s just no doubting that. Before that point, a lot was quite good.

“Because of the context of how the season is going and the current state of the group, it just feels horrendous. There’s no place to hide. It’s absolutely not good enough and everybody will be well aware of that. I just hope the club can now get someone in to help the boys out.”

Gladwin reflected that the week had been a difficult one, feeling that the collapse against Fleetwood had lead to a negative spiral but that the players had a duty to pick themselves up to go again for the remainder of the season.

He said, “I’m very much someone that wants to help the players. I really am. That sense of changing energy is probably just disappointment within myself maybe and not being able to affect them in the way I would’ve liked.

“I think until half-time at Fleetwood, we were in a really good place but that second half has damaged the lads a lot and I can feel that a lot just from being with them. But there’s no place to hide.

“We all get paid to perform for the football club so we can’t just throw in the towel and just wait until next season. There’s no way that can happen.”

Gladwin also said that the players were looking like they were still applying themselves but the grind was not working in their favour.

He said, “It would make my life easier if I just came out and said they’re not running around and not trying. They are trying but they’re not in a great place. We’ll continue to try help them until the last moment.

“But I understand the fans. They’re within their rights. They pay good money to see a product to enjoy and right now, it’s just not happening.”

Although Gladwin said he was enjoying his experience as boss, he said that the time had come for the Dons to look to appoint a long-term successor to Scott Lindsey in the Stadium MK hot-seat.

He said, “For me, it’s been an incredible learning experience and I know now it’s something I really enjoy doing, but I’ll be able to reflect on this experience afterwards. I’ve learned a hell of a lot but it’s just the right thing for the club, group and everybody to have a new manager with fresh ideas and fresh energy to change the place because it absolutely needs that.”