'The way Crawley play is great, but if you can pick them off, you’re in' - MK Dons boss gives Reds assessment

Both sides had chances to win the game but neither could find the back of the net, with Reds stopper Jacob Chapman on inspired form with a string of superb saves.

The draw meant Reds jumped up one place while Warne’s side couldn’t take advantage of draws for Bromley and Notts County.

"We’re disappointed not to win,” said Warne. “Weirdly, if we played horrifically, didn’t create any chances and results were kind, I’d feel like we got away with one, but I thought we were alright tonight. We had enough chances to win it but we didn't take them. “I liked the lads’ attitude in the build-up, we didn’t think it would be a stroll in the park. I’m disappointed not to win but I move on quite quickly.”

One of Chapman’s saves was from a free Alex Gilbey header before the break. Warne said: “If Gilbs’ header goes in in the first-half after that move, it would have been a fitting way to win it but all in all, I’m reasonably happy with how we performed, not overly happy with not scoring at home, but if you don’t win, don’t lose. And we tried to win. “I went in afterwards and the lads were really down, and if they under performed I wouldn’t have been happy but Crawley made it really hard for us in parts. We defended pretty well, but it wasn’t meant to be.”

But Warne praised Scott Lindsey’s men. He said: “The way Crawley play is great, but if you can pick them off, you’re in. They leave it one-vs-one all over the pitch. It was a grabby, physical game, it had a bit of heat to it just as it did at their place. As a manager, you take them back to their old club you know you will get a bit more out of your team. “I didn’t mind them having the ball, at times we could’ve been tidier. And we created enough chances to win it.”