Paul Warne praised the performance and result as his MK Dons teams saw off the challenge of Fleetwood Town at Stadium MK.

Warne spoke after his side recorded a 2-1 victory over the Cod Army at Stadium MK, with Nathaniel Mendez-Laing and Callum Paterson scoring the goals to help them to pick up the points.

The result was the Dons’ fourth straight home win in League Two games, as part of a greater sequence of 1 defeat in 9 overall that has helped the Dons climb into the league’s automatic promotion places.

Reflecting afterwards, Warne said that he felt his team’s performance met his expectations.

He said, “I liked us today. Even if we would’ve conceded late on, I think it would’ve been harsh on my team and would’ve been disappointed, but I wouldn’t have been disappointed with the performance.

“I just thought we created loads of opportunities today and chances to score. The lads have given everything physically, which obviously we expect, but there was a lot more play forward and forward runs against a really good and well organised team. So generally, yeah, I’m really pleased. There’s some really outstanding performances.”

The Dons were pegged back to 2-1 shortly after Nemane’s goal had put them 2-0 up, but Warne said he was delighted with how the team managed a situation that could’ve unravelled.

He said, “My initial thing at 2-1 was to look at the clock and I thought ‘Oh no’, but I thought the lads rode the time after that really well.

“Generally, really pleased with the way we defended. I just said to the lads there that you get points for the attacking stuff and goals and all that, however, the clearances, the volleys on the edge of the box late on, winning the headers, they’re the things that get you success. So that’s what pleased me the most.”

Warne was delighted with impact of substitutes Gethin Jones and Aaron Collins as they continued their return from injuries, but also said he was very pleased to have options as his side look to navigate the upcoming Christmas rush of fixtures.

He said, “The competition will be there, but it’s never about the 11 – it’s always about the squad. It’s why I’m obsessed about cultures at football clubs. Over the course of a season, everyone plays a part and you need everyone dedicated and pushing in the same direction, and they are.

“We’ll definitely lean our squad. Today, I could’ve started any wing-back, 2 of our 3 strikers, changed the midfield at any time, at the moment, we do have variation in our team selection, but whoever gets the shirt has to perform at a level to keep it. If the lads who come in next week that may not have played as much are better than the lads who played today, then I’m more than happy for them to keep the shirt. That’s what it should be like and at the moment is how it feels like.”

Victory maintains the Dons’ place in the upper end of League Two, albeit in a very compressed division where leaders Walsall are just ten points clear of 13th place Fleetwood.

Reflecting on the nature of it, Warne said, “It’s mayhem.

“Normally, the teams at the top are used to winning and teams at the bottom are used to losing. But this year, it’s the same in every league – Coventry are the only outlier. You’re 3 defeats from dropping 10 places and 3 victories away from being in the top 3. That’s how it feels. You just have to be relentless with your home form and pick up points away and currently, we’re being quite good.”