MK Dons boss Karl Robinson pleased with Simon Church

MK Dons manager Karl Robinson revealed he was critical of Simon Church at half-time before the striker scored an important second goal in the 3-0 win over 10-man Blackburn Rovers.

Church had only found the net once in his first 11 games in all competitions for MK Dons since joining in the summer from Charlton Athletic.

But the Wales international scored a vital second goal with 19 minutes remaining either side of strikes from Ben Reeves, whose first from the penalty spot came after Adam Henley had been sent off after just nine minutes.

Robinson said: "I had a go at Churchy at half-time because of the chance he missed in the first half.

"But then he scored after that and he deserves it because he works so hard in training every week, and that's why I back him because I know there are goals in him somewhere."

The victory was MK Dons' first win in eight Championship matches and Robinson added: "I thought the players were excellent and the way we started the game made it really difficult for Blackburn in the first ten minutes.

"We were under no illusions today about how difficult this was going to be and I think my players conducted themselves really well from the first minute to the last.

"We were able to see out their pressure in the second half and come out the other side in the last ten minutes and dominate the game."

Henley was sent off in the ninth minute for bringing down Josh Murphy in the penalty box and Reeves duly dispatched the spot kick.

The home side eventually made their one-man advantage count in the 71st minute when Murphy crossed into the six-yard box and Church headed past Jason Steele.

And Reeves rounded off the win in the 89th minute with a well-taken finish inside the penalty box.

Blackburn manager Gary Bowyer said: "I think in any game when you get a player sent off so early it will always affect the outcome of the game.

"What you ask for, though, is that the decision is correct - the referee sprinted to give the decision.

"Was the contact in the penalty box? Was it a foul in the first place? These are all questions that the referee has to be complete clear in his head.

"The use of technology helps him out massively but we continue to ignore it.

"He's outside the box and the lad's made a meal out of it quickly, but the referee has to be 100 per cent sure that it is a foul.

"We have to bounce back now on Wednesday [against Derby County] and we have to regroup and look after everybody.

"It's no secret that we're under pressure at the moment with our squad but we have to stick together."