I needed picking up after Wigan game – AFC Wimbledon boss Mark Robinson after enthralling 2-2 draw with Charlton Athletic

BY LOUIS MENDEZ

AFC Wimbledon boss Mark Robinson says he needed a little pep talk from chief executive Joe Palmer following the draw with Wigan in midweek – and that gave him the lift to send his side out to perform during the London derby clash with Charlton Athletic.

The Dons came from behind to take a point off fellow strugglers Wigan at Plough Lane on Wednesday and repeated the trick twice against promotion hopefuls Charlton in an enthralling 2-2 draw.

The visitors lead early on through Jayden Stockley’s header but Ryan Longman soon had the Wombles on level terms.

Diallang Jaiyesimi edged the Addicks back ahead six minutes later but Longman ensured the home side – who were well on top during the second-period – earned a share of the spoils after capitalising on a woefully short back-pass from Charlton defender Akin Famewo just beyond the hour-mark.

Robinson, whose side remain in the League One drop zone but just a point from safety and with a game in hand, said some motivational talk from above helped gee him up for the game against Charlton.

Robinson explained to BBC Radio London: “The manner of the performance was better. Possibly, I went away from my own beliefs a bit against Wigan and played a formation with which I thought we might create more chances. But with that we lost a style of football that I believe is going to take this football club forward. So that’s probably why I felt a little bit flat.

“But I had a great chat with our chief executive and he said: ‘We gave you the job for a reason. We’ve been excited by some of the football we were playing.’ Which was great and gave myself the confidence to go back today I think you sat that today in the performance and with some of the football we played.

“Today, particularly the second-half, that was pleasing. They’ve set themselves a standard now in terms of the work rate. They’ve got to make sure they live up to it, not just on a matchday but every single day.

“Possibly [Wimbledon deserved to win the game]. I think we possibly had the better chances and were very much on the front foot second-half. By the same token, when you give away the goals we’ve given away, possibly not because the two goals weren’t good enough.”

PHOTOS: PAUL EDWARDS