MK Dons interim manager Ben Gladwin is determined to instil some belief into his side after a 2-0 defeat to fellow strugglers Accrington in his first game in charge.
The club parted company with Scott Lindsey on Sunday after eight defeats in 12 games which has seen them go from promotion-challengers to 18th place.
Stanley took the game to MK Dons and opened the scoring on 24 minutes when Seb Quirk’s deep cross was headed home by Tyler Walton.
The Reds got a second on 39 minutes when Joe O’Brien-Whitmarsh fired home his first EFL goal.
While MK Dons upped the tempo after the break they did not have a shot on target and it is now seven games without a win – and six defeats in that spell.
Gladwin said: “I think it is a sign of where we are at mentally more than anything. I think the boys are suffering, hurt by how it has been recently and it showed.
“As soon as there is a negative, the energy goes completely out of the boys. The belief is not quite there and it was a disappointing night.
“We responded well at half-time after getting some messages and a bit of belief into them but at that point it’s tough.
“We have had one day on the training pitch with some new ideas and trying to pick them up so I am proud of them.
“It takes a bit of time to turn things around and on Thursday I need the players to come in with some energy.
“They need courage, belief and intensity to go again. Losing games is hard but the energy around the place needs addressing.
“The players need to be in a place where they feel they can be connected and win a football match playing our way. We have to find a way and I believe we will.”
Stanley chalked up only their fourth home win of the season and maintained their seven-point cushion from the bottom two.
Boss John Doolan said: “It was a perfect night – a win and a clean sheet. That’s brilliant for us.
“In the first half we played some really good football, we matched them, we pressed them and asked them questions.
“In recent games, we have lacked quality in the final third, with the ball into the box and the finish but we had it tonight.
“It was a fantastic ball in and a brilliant header from Tyler Walton. We know he has that in his locker.
“Then it’s a cool finish from Joe O’Brien-Whitmarsh. He is elegant on the ball, he glides and stepping up from 21s football is a big ask but he is showing he can do it.
“Everyone put a shift in. We can only take care of our own business and see where that takes us.”
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