AFC Wimbledon head coach pinpoints key factor in improved second half display against Charlton

Mark Robinson felt AFC Wimbledon’s work off the ball helped them gain control in the second half of Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Charlton Athletic.

Ryan Longman struck twice for the Dons to ensure the derby at Plough Lane ended all square.

And the Wimbledon head coach pinpointed the shape and work ethic of his side as key factors in the hosts being in the ascendency after the restart.

“I was pleased with lots of aspects of the performance and was even possibly disappointed we didn’t take all three points by the end of it,” Robinson told the South London Press.

“We made a bright start. I’m disappointed with the manner of the goals [conceded] again, I can’t lie. But we showed great character with our second-half performance. In terms of where I see us going, it was the closest yet – off the ball and on the ball.

“We played a different shape. We did some work on the training ground in terms of how we want to look on the ball. We got so much right off the ball that it allowed us to play. I’m a big believer in what you do off the ball will dictate everything. We got an awful lot right off the ball, stifled them and that allowed us to have a platform to build off and play some good football.”

Both of Charlton’s goals came down Wimbledon’s right side. Liam Millar allowed to race down that flank and deliver crosses for Jayden Stockley and Diallang Jaiyesimi to convert.

“There’s little things we could’ve stopped at source in the build up, which we didn’t do, and we got exposed a little bit in key areas,” said Robinson. “But it’s part of a learning process. What they showed in the second half is they rectified that. I believe Charlton changed shape twice in the second half – it shows how we were doing with the diamond that they matched us up.

“Nothing happens overnight. We are getting better in areas. We haven’t conceded a lot lately but if you stop conceding those type of goals then the wins will come.”

Longman’s second leveller came after the on-loan Brighton man beat Ben Amos to an underhit backpass by Akin Famewo. Charlton’s keeper had looked to go short from a goal-kick, with Famewo inside the penalty area.

Robinson said: “If you look at the game it nearly happened twice before, in terms of the way we pressed. The lad will be disappointed that he’s underhit the pass but also the set up created that situation, where he only had one option to play. There were a couple of near misses before that where we nearly had success. We were pleased with that aspect.”

PHOTOS: PAUL EDWARDS AND KEITH GILLARD