Nigel Adkins reacts to second defeat in four days as Charlton are beaten at Milton Keynes
BY LOUIS MENDEZ
Nigel Adkins conceded that Milton Keynes enjoyed the better of a disappointing second-half as Charlton fell to their second defeat in four days.
The Addicks are still yet to taste victory three games into the league season – the first time that has happened in eight years.
Jayden Stockley had given the South Londoners the lead after a dominant opening 15 minutes but Spurs loanee Troy Parrott levelled up within four minutes.
Mo Eisa scored the decisive goal just beyond the hour-mark and Charlton, who struggled to get back into the contest during defeat at Oxford on Saturday, were once again caught lacking when chasing the game at Stadium MK.
Afterwards, Adkins said: “I thought the first 20 minutes were exceptional. We had a real good intensity about ourselves, great movement in front of the ball. We scored a great goal. For me, the first 20 minutes were very good, we had the momentum of the game.
“Then, unfortunately, not long after that we’ve gone and conceded from my point of view a very poor goal, we’ve gone and lost it. Then the momentum of the game changed then a little bit during that first-half. The goalkeeper made a fantastic save from Jayden Stockley just before half-time. A little through ball there from DJ, who I thought had a great first-half.
“So, it’s even at half-time but it’s fair to say that MK Dons got the better of the momentum early on the second-half and carried that through the game. They play a very good formation, the way they do. They moved the ball about. We wanted to press from the very beginning. We’ve done that in spells but sometimes when you don’t get it right teams can pass through you a little bit.
“At stages that happens a little bit. Then when the momentum of the game goes that way, sometimes it’s challenging.
“I know I’ve got a real honest, hard-working group of professionals who are giving everything they’ve got and want to keep improving. Unfortunately, tonight we’ve not got the result we’ve come for. A very good first-half, some chances. But the second-half belongs to MK Dons.”
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