MK Dons 1-2 Nottingham Forest: Paul Williams and Karl Robinson reaction
Saturday 7 May 2016 16:40, UK
Manager Paul Williams insisted it was a fitting way to end the season as Britt Assombalonga scored his first goal in more than 15 months to lift 10-man Nottingham Forest to a final-day 2-1 victory at MK Dons.
Chris Cohen handed Forest the lead after eight minutes with his first goal since September 2013 only for Nicky Maynard to level for the relegated hosts midway through the first half.
Danny Fox saw red for Forest after a bad tackle on Jordan Spence after 37 minutes but MK Dons could not capitalise and Assombalonga's first goal since returning from a serious knee injury secured all three points.
Williams said: "We got here for a lunchtime kick-off and it was kind of mind-blowing how many of our fans were here. We had nothing to play for and it just shows you the size of Nottingham Forest.
"Chris Cohen has not scored for a long time and he pops up and scores and then it's really written in the stars that Britt has come on and scored the winner.
"You could see what it meant to the staff, the players and the fans the way he celebrated.
"I've felt for Britt at times because all he wants to do is come on a play football and he's not had that opportunity for 14 months. It's really a fairytale ending to see him coming on and scoring the winner.
"We said at half-time to just come back out and show what you can do, look at the support the fans have given us and go and give them something to shout about."
MK Dons will now turn their attentions to League One next season, but manager Karl Robinson is already planning his side's return to the Championship.
"We performed OK and we've probably scored the goal of our season," he said.
"In the second half, it did look like two teams who had nothing to play for. It was hard at times sitting here with the lack of intensity through both sides.
"Now the season is over it's about us rebuilding, the line is drawn now and we just need to forget about the disappointments of this season.
"I didn't do my team talk in the dressing room after the game. I did it on the pitch and I told them that 11,000 of our fans turned up knowing we'd be relegated and they've stayed to clap us of so we have to put a show on for them next season.
"We've sat down with players a lot this week, I want to build a team here so that we can go again for another battle to get into the Championship next season."
