Jay Saunders questioned whether an injured linesman contributed to Maidstone’s FA Cup exit at MK Dons.

United, leading 1-0 at the break, had to sit around for 25 minutes at half-time while a change was made.

It frustrated Saunders whose side had the momentum following an excellent first-half performance at Stadium MK.

The League 1 Dons flew at Maidstone when the second-round tie finally restarted and went on to win 4-1.

Speaking about the extended break, Saunders said: “It was something to do with the linesman getting injured.

“They’ve got a 15-minute break, so I don’t get why it takes an extra 10 minutes.

“I don’t know if that affected us but it’s not ideal.

“It’s just a lot of sitting about, isn’t it. They’ve got 15 minutes for the other linesman to get changed and come out.

“I don’t really get what the delay was but, listen, it is what it is.

“I don’t want to blame the whole defeat on that because it looks like I’m clutching at straws.”

Maidstone led through Magnus Okuonghae and created several more good chances in the first half.

Saunders was disappointed with the second-half defending, saying MK Dons hadn’t had to work for their goals.

However, it wasn’t a day to start having a go at anyone.

He said: “I thought first half we were good, second half we conceded some sloppy goals and that’s our problem at the moment.

“But I think first half we were a credit to the club. I thought we were excellent.

“I’m not going to be too hard on the boys - it was always going to be a big ask coming here.

“As I say, first half I thought we were outstanding. The game plan worked, everything I asked the boys to do they did well.

“Second half, we never quite got going. They upped it a gear and at that point you need to ride that early storm and we didn’t do that.”

Read the match report from Maidstone's 4-1 defeat at MK Dons