BURY were dominant in defeat, according to manager Lee Clark, who was left cursing his side’s decision-making in both boxes after they went down 2-0 at home to MK Dons.

Osman Sow gave the Dons a sixth-minute lead, but Michael Smith and Josh Laurent both missed good chances to equalise before the break.

Ex-Shaker Ethan Ebanks-Landell then doubled the advantage with a deft header from Scott Golbourne’s corner after the break, yet again Bury had chances to get back into the game, the best of which fell to Laurent, but he was denied by a fine save by Dons stopper Lee Nicholls.

“We had issues in both penalty boxes,” Clark said. “The two goals we away were awful goals from our point of view. Switching off from the quick set-play in their half and then one ball taking out our whole back three for their first goal). It was poor. For the second, when you get done on a set play and you lose your man it’s poor.

“We had a lot of possession – between both boxes we were the totally dominant team and we had 26 shots at goal.”

Clark felt the final pass was all that was lacking and was not too disheartened by the performance.

“I couldn’t have any qualms about their fight and their desire,” he added. “We got in some great positions out wide but the quality of our crosses was not there.

“Also we need to get people to attack crosses in between the posts. I don’t understand why players want to be 10 yards beyond the far post to attack the cross, because you’re never going to score from there.”

The loss ended a run of three league matches without defeat and Clark is hopeful his squad is starting to settle, with Andrew Tutte and Eoghan O’Connell due to return from injury.

“We made the one change,” he said. “That’s important for me. Leading up to our next game we should get important players back as well.”

Match ratings

Bury (5-3-2): Fasan 7; Humphrey 6, Edwards 6, Whitmore 6 (Dobre 71, 7), Aldred 6 (Skarz 49, 6), Leigh 6; Danns 6 (Ince 55, 6), Laurent 6, Maguire 6; Smith 5, Beckford 5. Not used: Maloney, Williams, Reilly, Bunn.

MK Dons (4-5-1): Nicholls; Brittain, Ebanks-Landell, Wootton, Golbourne (Williams 76); Agard, Gilbey, Upson, Tshibola, Ariyibi (Cisse 71); Sow (Aneke 83). Not used: Sietsma, Lewington, Seager, Nesbitt.

Referee: Michael Salisbury (Preston).

Attendance: 3,165 (166 visiting).