Dean Saunders described his players as “magnificent” after they came within seconds of pulling off a famous win over MK Dons.

Reds had to play 65 for minutes with striker Matt Harrold in goal after Brian Jensen dislocated a thumb and were only denied victory deep into injury time.

Izale McLeod had given the hosts the lead before Jensen was forced off and then doubled the advantage early in the second half.

Crawley defended stubbornly to protect Harrold but Will Grigg halved the deficit with 14 minutes to go and Dele Alli scrambled home an equaliser in the sixth minute of injury time.

Saunders said: “I don’t know what to think. It feels like it is two points lost as they scored so late but when the goalkeeper went off I would have taken a point.

“I find it unbelievable we have only got one goalkeeper at the club and I was just hoping we could get through this game and address it next week.

“Matt was a hero when he came on but all the players did well. They battled and did everything I could have asked for them so in the end it is probably a point gained.”

Saunders also questioned the time-keeping of referee Graham Salisbury with Alli’s equaliser coming after five minutes and 20 seconds of the minimum of five minutes added on.

He added: “I was staring at the referee for about a minute and he didn’t blow. I don’t want to get myself in trouble criticising a referee but I don’t know where he got that extra time from.”