Interim MK Dons boss Ben Gladwin praised returning Jack Sanders after his goal secured a 1-0 win at Cheltenham.
The defender has endured a nightmare start at Dons after joining them from St Johnstone for £150,000 in January, spending four days on a drip in hospital with a kidney infection.
But he made it a triumphant return, meeting Joe White’s cross at the far post after a short corner routine and heading past Joe Day in the ninth minute.
“I am really pleased for Jack Sanders because it’s not been the easiest start for him at the football club,” Gladwin said.
“I am sure he’s going to enjoy his evening, but I am also sure he’ll be a little bit sore. The back three were phenomenal and we the team defended exceptionally.
“I am relieved, because of the result and we should have had a few more goals.
“But it’s a win and a massive moment and we have an opportunity to go back-to-back on Tuesday (Carlisle away).
“I am proud of the players, there is more energy in the dressing room which I was so happy to see after the game.
“We can all see the talent, but it’s making sure the mentality and the energy is there and we had that today, with the fans also making a difference.
“My dad was in the away end and he said his ears were killing him after the game.”
Gladwin’s side had started strongly, with White firing an effort wide in the third minute and Joe Tomlinson’s shot blocked in the box.
After Sanders’ goal, Callum Hendry was denied by Ibrahim Bakare’s block.
Cheltenham’s first serious effort was a header from Matty Taylor after Jordan Thomas’ cross in the 18th minute which cleared the bar.
Dons keeper Connal Trueman made a double save to deny Taylor and Thomas after half an hour and Sam Stubbs saw a header kicked off the line before half-time.
Cheltenham rarely threatened to find a leveller in the second half and Day had to make a fine save to deny Laurence Maguire in the 89th minute to prevent the Dons doubling their lead.
Robins boss Michael Flynn admitted his team were poor in the first half as their outside play-off hopes suffered a major blow.
“The first 35 minutes killed us and it’s as bad as I’ve seen us, we were awful,” he said.
“I am not going to try and make excuses. We looked flat and they looked like they wanted it more.
“Second half, I’d say was pretty even, but we didn’t create much at all.
“MK have a massive budget, but it wasn’t budgets that won them the game today, they won that on the way they approached the game, the way they started and the problems they created for us.
“We let them do it because we were passive and that is the disappointing thing.”
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