JOHN Doolan says he will pick his side up after seeing their two-game wining run come to an end at MK Dons on Tuesday night.

Back-to-back victories - the Reds first two wins of the season - saw them climb off the foot of the League Two table.

But hopes of a third straight win got off to a worst possible start when Stanley conceded in the first minute.

Alex Gilbey got MK Dons off to a perfect start before Joe Tomlinson extended it after the break.

Josh Woods pulled a goal back for the visitors, but the result went against the visitors, who lost for the first time in four League Two games.

MK Dons scored in the opening minute. A rushed defensive pass was intercepted by Gilbey, who duly beat Billy Crellin.

The visitors had chances in the first half, as Tom McGill denied Shaun Whalley’s free-kick and Darra Costelloe fired wide.

The Dons extended their lead two minutes before the hour. A cross was cleared to Tomlinson, who duly placed a 25-yard strike into the back of the net.

Substitute Woods pulled a goal back for the visitors a few minutes later as he turned in Tyler Walton’s cross.

But Accrington struggled to create chances after scoring in a game that featured 10 bookings as the hosts ground out victory.

Despite the defeat, Doolan argued his side played well enough to win.

But he was left to rue their start to the game, going behind in the opening minute.

He said: “It’s the worst possible start that we’ve had but after that I thought we just totally bossed the game.

“We were the better team in the first half, we asked all the questions, we picked up first contact, second balls, got the ball wide and their keeper was the busier one in the first half. I didn’t want the first half to end to be honest.

“But then we come out second half and carried that momentum. I’m full of praise for the lads to more or less out-football MK Dons at times.

“Possession will probably be pretty close and I’m very proud of the lads. Obviously the result is disappointing because you want to win every game you try and play, but we’ll pat ourselves on the back for the effort and we’ll go again.

“I just said to the lads that the effort and way they went about it was first class.

“Our focus now is that we have to pick ourselves up, and I’ll pick them up, and we’ll go again for Walsall at home.”

MK Dons boss Scott Lindsey said he was happy to earn consecutive wins but felt more work was needed.

He said: “The biggest task tonight was to earn back-to-back wins. It’s 32 weeks ago since that last happened and that can’t happen at a club this size.

“So, however we did it, it was important we did it and we didn’t do it that great, so now, I’ll be picking the bones out of a performance which I wasn’t over-pleased with, but we got the win.

“First home win, I’m pleased to get that out of the way now. Obviously I wanted that before now. I felt we could’ve done that in the Tranmere game and felt we did enough without hurting the opposition in the Port Vale game.”

He added: “We’re pleased to get that out of the way but we need to improve our performances.

“I want to win and win playing well, but we’ll take it, wipe our mouth and move on.

“Players have put a lot of effort in. Did we play well? No.

“Did we control and dominate the ball? In periods, but not enough for me.”