Dons boss left disappointed by his team’s defending in 4-2 loss to Bristol Rovers at Plough Lane

Glyn Hodges was disappointed with AFC Wimbledon’s defending as they lost 4-2 to Bristol Rovers yesterday.

Joe Pigott scored his ninth goal of the campaign to put the Dons into an early lead before Sam Nicholson and former Charlton striker Brandon Hanlan put the visitors in front with 25 minutes on the clock.

Centre-back Ben Heneghan made it 2-2 on the half-hour mark before Hanlan nudged the Gas ahead again in the first minute of first-half stoppage time.

Nicholson headed home a fourth goal in the 64th minute to hand victory to new Rovers boss Paul Tisdale.

“With every goal there were three or four opportunities to win the ball or be stronger in the tackle.

“With the way the referees are a bit more punch in the tackle can lead to a free-kick, and we stop it there. Sometimes we are a bit too honest, and sometimes you’ve got to be streetwise, but they were poor goals to give away.

“All of our defending against Peterborough was fantastic, but today it wasn’t at the same level, and that is the consistency we have to get.

“Bristol Rovers were good today. It was disappointing, but we are still in a good place, we have still done really well, and there are still points to pick up. It’s a harsh lesson: we didn’t stick to the game plan, we didn’t do what we normally do, we went off track a bit, but credit to them.

“From the high of Wednesday and putting in a great performance to beat Peterborough, to all of a sudden being brought down to earth. We knew this was going to be a harder game.

“It was an opportunity to get back-to-back wins, but they have a new manager in place and they really play on the front foot. We knew it was going to be difficult, and so it proved, but you can’t fault our boys. They gave everything and it just wasn’t to be.

“We had a chance to get to 23 points, and we are devastated in there, but it’s gone now.

“We have another game on a Tuesday, and then we have Charlton away on the following Saturday, so the games are coming thick and fast. We have to stick to what we do. We are a good side, we have a way of playing, and the boys are always together.

“What has come out of this run of games is that lots of players have had a lot of minutes and there is competition for places. Players know that they have to be at it, or they will lose the shirt. I can’t complain, the boys have been brilliant, and it’s a bad day at the office, so we move on.”

PICTURES: KEITH GILLARD