Milton Keynes Dons manager Karl Robinson admitted his side did not deserve their 1-0 win at Sheffield United, which extended their unbeaten run to nine league games.
Dele Alli struck the winner in the 87th minute after keeper Mark Howard could only parry Danny Green's low driven free-kick and the midfielder pounced on the loose ball to score from close range.Chris Basham and Stefan Scougall tested visiting keeper David Martin while Paddy McCarthy headed over from a good position.
Antony Kay went close for the visitors with a diving header which was cleared off the line by Jamie Murphy.
Green was sent off deep into stoppage time after receiving a second yellow card.
Robinson said: "We didn't deserve to win. I've got to be honest and say that we weren't great.
"They're a very good side and we had to do one or two things at the end of the game. We rolled our sleeves up and we fight. I'm not ever going to apologise for my team fighting and putting their bodies on the line.
"Dele getting a goal again. This kid's just ridiculous. To score nine goals at 18 years of age. It's just scary. I think he's our all-time leading goalscoring midfielder from open play.
"I was a little bit disappointed with some of the bookings. I have to make one formal apology to Sheffield United because Will Grigg didn't give the ball back to them in the right manner. He got carried away and he's apologised to them already.
"I've got no complaints about Danny Green's red card because they were both blatant bookings.
"We've won after not being good and hopefully we can use that now to our advantage to go on from here.
"The group is very strong and we can dig deep."