Seconds out!

HEADING FOR A FALL...Athletic's Aaron Amari-Holloway takes a tumble against MK Dons last night. PICTURES by ALAN HOWARTH

JOHN Sheridan admitted he was mystified as to where the time came from for MK Dons' winning goal - but Athletic's manager remains satisfied with his side's points tally from back-to-back away games.

Nicky Maynard's volley in the sixth minute of stoppage time handed the Dons victory in a dour contest at Stadium MK, meaning Athletic remain in the bottom four of Sky Bet League One.

With the board having shown a minimum of four minutes to be added on and with one substitution made in that additional period, referee Darren Handley allowed play to continue with the ball finding the net five minuets and 10 seconds beyond the regular 90.

Having seen his own man Peter Clarke net a similar last-gasp goal at Chesterfield, though, Sheridan was keen not to highlight time-keeping after the game.

"It is football," said Sheridan, whose side remain 21st in the table, a point behind Swindon in 20th. "We played on Saturday when we scored a really late goal and you have got to keep going to the final whistle.

"I don't want to keep looking for excuses. I don't think we played well, though defensively we looked really solid. Connor Ripley again didn't have too much to do, making one save.

"At the same time, we were not a threat really bar a couple of half-chances. It was a dogged performance, but I would like us to be a lot better on the ball.

"We defended when we had to against a good, footballing side. It was a killer punch at the end.

"People told me the referee played a minute and a half over. It's ridiculous if that is the case. I will ask him and they will all get together, writing it down and saying the same thing. It's a waste of time going in to tell the truth.

"It is a good goal for them to be fair. I'm just gutted we didn't get that point after a scrapping performance."

Athletic's lack of fire power means it is now 17 goals scored in 30 league outings and Sheridan will work on trying to get his team more attack-minded.

"I would have been happy with a point to get us out of the bottom four," he added.

"It was a good pitch to pass the ball on, but I would like us to be better going forward.

"I know we have a workmanlike side and we are hard to break down. But I want us to be adventurous and more positive attacking-wise and believe that we can cause teams problems. It is something I have to try to get into the team.

"We had the result on Saturday and I would have taken one win from the two games.

"We have two home games now and it's important if we can to get maximum points.

"Coventry is a big game, for them as well. We have to hit back now and I expect us to go for it.

"If we keep taking six points from every three games, we will be alright."

And the manner of the winning goal, which came from a half-cleared cross, irked the manager.

"They had a throw-in and we had nine men behind the ball," he said. "The nearest one to the lad who put the ball into the box was 15 yards away.

"You have to stop the ball coming into the box. It is young Aaron Holloway and he has to see that, switch on and the ball would have ended up being thrown back to one of the centre-halves or forced a throw into the box.

"We allowed the ball to come into the box and I am not picking people out. But it's simple - stop it coming into the box."

Coventry were in action last night and gained a place in the Checkatrade Trophy final thanks to a 2-1 home win over Wycombe, Stuart Beavon and George Thomas getting the goals for Russell Slade's side.