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It wasn't because his side played badly. Far from it. His disappointment stemmed from seeing his charges match the League Two leaders all the way but missed several golden chances to fight back from
Lloyd Dyer's 21st-minute strike.

"I am not a good loser but this is a low point for me," said the frustrated Morecambe boss.

"My lads have given everything in terms of commitment and played some excellent football and created some great chances. But we didn't take them and that is the harsh lesson we have to learn."

Morecambe's football even earned the praise of MK Dons' assistant boss Ray Mathias who said: "I'm sure Morecambe will win more games than they lose playing like they did today and I admire the way they try to play football."

But while Morecambe missed the opportunities that came their way, Dons
stole the game with a goal out of the blue.

With Craig Stanley off the pitch receiving treatment there was confusion in the home ranks as the visitors won a free-kick on the edge of the Shrimps' box.

As everyone took their places, Dyer found himself in acres of space on the edge of the area and with time to set his sights he unleashed an unstoppable shot that flew into the top right-hand corner of Joe Lewis' goal.

Paul Ince's side almost added a second five minutes later when Jude Sterling's neat volley sailed just over the bar.

Morecambe's best chances of the afternoon fell to Michael Twiss, but
unfortunately to his weaker right foot.

Garry Thompson was the main provider and made an early impression on his recall to the side, with two superb crosses.

From the first, Twiss skewed a volley wide from close range with the goal at his mercy and the same pair combined again a minute later with
Twiss again shooting wide.

On 36 minutes Carl Baker came close to scoring a wonder goal from another superb Thompson cross, as he flashed a first time volley inches wide of the left hand post, before Twiss missed the Shrimps' best chance of the game five minutes before the break.

Blinkhorn was the provider with a neat flick-on from Danny Adams' long
ball to play in Twiss behind the Dons' defence.

Keeper Willy Gueret committed himself by racing from goal but although
Twiss's lob beat him it also beat the bar.

The second half was a much tighter affair with defences on top.

Dons did their best to disrupt the game as they moaned, whinged and wasted time and it seemed to pay off, as Morecambe struggled to create any openings.

There was a brief moment of hope when Thompson went down under Dean Lewington's challenge but Wembley referee Michael Oliver waved away the
penalty claims.

As the game wore on Morecambe did manage to raise their game, as Baker
dragged a shot wide, David Artell saw a header cleared off the line by Danny Swailes and Garry Thompson forced Gueret into a neat save low to his left, before flashing another effort wide.

There was a sense of relief for the Shrimps when Jude Sterling was denied a second Dons goal by an offside flag but they fought back again to pile on the pressure in the closing moments.

Substitute Jon Newby flashed an effort just wide but there was no way through as the Dons claimed their fourth successive victory.

For Morecambe the need to find a killer touch in front of goal is all too clear.

Morecambe: Lewis 6, Yates 6, Artell 7, Bentley 7, Adams 6, Thompson 8, Allen 6 (Hunter 74), Stanley 7, Baker 7 (Newby 86), Twiss 6, Blinkhorn 7. Subs: Drench, Howard, Hunter, Sorvel, Newby. Unused subs: Drench,
Howard, Sorvel.

MK Dons: Gueret 7, Sterling 7, Lewington 7, Diallo 7, O'Hanlon 6, Andrews 8, Dyer 7 (Smart 85), Navarro 7, Swailes 7, Knight 6 (rep Johnson 67), Wilbraham 7 (rep Broughton 87). Unused subs: Howell, Abbey.
Booked: Navarro, Sterling.

Attendance: 2,688.
Referee: M Oliver.

Star man: Garry Thompson - produced some great crosses that deserved a goal.