MK Dons boss delivers verdict on Sunderland win as they end wretched away run at Stadium of Light

Martin’s side had gone 20 league games without winning, a run stretching back well over a year.

The visitors had impressed in an open first half, fighting back from Max Power’s early goal to level the scores through experienced striker Cameron Jerome.

They were more than worthy of their lead, taken shortly after the interval when Scott Fraser scored from the penalty spot.

The Black Cats then created a number of chances to equalise, with goalkeeper Andrew Fisher making two superb saves from Denver Hume.

“What a place to come to do it,” Martin said.

"To come back after the way we started the game, it's incredible.

"We dominated the first half, looked the most like scoring and I think they scored against the run of play which was sloppy from us. We got back in it really quickly and that was a massive help for us.

"In the second half, we got the goal and we haven't been in that position a lot, especially away from home, so we weren't quite as fluid on the ball as we have been. But what we lacked in that area, the boys gave me everything they had out of possession.

“It's an incredible away performance.

“I'm demanding by nature and I want to see more control than what we had in the second half, but there are going to be days [when it's like that].

“There are days when you have to dig in away from home and be resilient.

“To go 1-0 down so early was frustrating, to bounce back so quickly and then show the intensity after a hectic schedule, makes me so proud.”

Sunderland’s ultimate dominance of the possession stats marked a shift from the norm for MK Dons, a side used to controlling the ball.

Martin said that was merely a reflection of the game situation.

“The difference today was having something to protect,” he said.

"It hasn't happened enough. Then it became a bit anxious and tense. We were playing a team who has been in really good form, their home form has been brilliant, so I get than anxiety.

"We will get to a point where we can do what we want for 90 minutes, but that will take time. When it's like that, we have to show the other side of our game. If anyone else needed convincing of how much we want to help and work for each other, that was the 45 minutes to do it in.

"It's an incredible away performance.

“I'm demanding by nature and I want to see more control than what we had in the second half, but there are going to be days [when it's like that].

“There are days when you have to dig in away from home and be resilient.

“To go 1-0 down so early was frustrating, to bounce back so quickly and then show the intensity after a hectic schedule, makes me so proud.”

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