Paul Warne highlighted the character of his Milton Keynes Dons team after they twice came from behind to win 3-2 at Colchester United and progress to the FA Cup second round.
Colchester twice led through Micah Mbick and Harry Anderson but Rushian Hepburn-Murphy equalised on two occasions, before substitute Joe Tomlinson bagged the visitors’ 87th-minute winner.
MK Dons boss Warne said: “I was really pleased with the general character of the team.
“It was a good old-fashioned FA Cup game, although it felt like a league game at times as well.
“Both teams had a go, obviously. I’m biased but I really loved my team today – I thought they were excellent.
“In fairness to them, they took their two goals really well but I just thought we had a lot of control, especially in the second half.”
Colchester boss Danny Cowley said: “It was disappointing for us – it was two very good teams.
“They have an embarrassment of riches when you look at their squad which is a Championship squad, so we competed incredibly well.
“The big moments didn’t go for us – I can’t speak about the ref, because I’ll just get myself in trouble.”
Colchester took a 26th-minute lead when Mbick received Harry Anderson’s pass and lobbed goalkeeper Connal Trueman, from nearly 25 yards.
But MK Dons equalised in the 37th minute when Hepburn-Murphy’s strike deflected in off Colchester goalkeeper Matt Macey, from Aaron Nemane’s pass.
Colchester restored their lead in the 48th minute when Anderson controlled Kyreece Lisbie’s pass and scored, after MK Dons defender Jack Sanders had cheaply surrendered possession.
But MK Dons levelled again in the 58th minute through Hepburn-Murphy, who collected Nathaniel Mendez-Laing’s pass and drilled a low shot into the far corner.
And the visitors won it when Tomlinson slotted home from Mendez-Laing’s pass, late on.
