Neither side scored in a tight game at Stadium MK, in a game that saw the Dons have the higher-quality chances but where they were unable to beat Crawley keeper Jacob Chapman.

Both sides climbed a place thanks to results elsewhere, with MK Dons now fourth and Crawley 21st, but a draw did little to aid the two sides’ differing aspirations.

Lindsey said he was happy with the way his side were able to keep his former club MK Dons from taking advantage of chances.

He said: “It’s a solid point against a really good team. They’re up there for a reason – they’ve got really good players and there was a real threat all night. I think on reflection of chances, they (MK) probably won the battle as they had some really good chances.

“I thought my boys were brilliant today, dug deep, showed great character. In the first half, we were excellent with the ball and second, we began a little nervy and a little deep and maybe stopped playing our football a little bit.

“No-one backed us, everybody would’ve said MK would beat us, which I kind of like as I can use that as fuel that no-one backs us so let’s go and upset everybody.

“We tried our best to do that. Unfortunately, we came away with just one point rather than all three but away from home against a team tipped as favourites at the start of the season, I’m pleased with that.”

Paul Warne felt his MK Dons side were good enough to win the game but was left disappointed not to score.

He said: “I thought we played alright tonight and thought we created enough chances to win, but didn’t take them.

“I liked the lads’ attitude in the warm-ups and meetings and we didn’t turn up tonight thinking it would’ve been a stroll in the park. It definitely didn’t feel like one. I’m disappointed we didn’t win, but I move on quite quickly. We obviously need to score goals, I know that, but I can’t knock anyone’s effort. I didn’t think anyone played particularly poorly and didn’t mind the way we played but it’s disappointing.

“All in all, I’m reasonably happy with the performance, obviously not happy to not score at home, but if you’re not going to win, just don’t lose.

“If they underperformed, I wouldn’t have been happy, but Crawley made it very difficult for us, played well in parts. I thought we defended pretty well but for whatever reason, it wasn’t meant to be.”