“We have got to retain that belief” – AFC Wimbledon manager Mark Bowen on 1-1 draw with Milton Keynes

Mark Bowen says that there is a “hell of a belief” in the AFC Wimbledon dressing room that they can survive the drop from League One despite conceding in the final 10 minutes to draw 1-1 with Milton Keynes.

After a sustained period of pressure, the Dons opened the scoring in the 19th minute when Alex Woodyard collected Nesta-Guinness Walker’s cleared free-kick and struck a shot that deflected past Jamie Cumming.

The visitors eventually found an equaliser in the 80th minute – Troy Parrott meeting Dean Lewington’s cross at the back post and hammering a volley into the roof of Nik Tzanev’s goal.

The Dons thought they had found the winner in the 85th minute, but Ethan Chislett was unable to force a header past the Milton Keynes goalkeeper.

Wimbledon are now 24 games without a win in all competitions but did pick up their second point of the Mark Bowen reign and are now just three points from safety.

“Fair play, Troy Parrott is a top-class striker at this level, and I don’t want to do him a disservice, but maybe if he had that opportunity 10 times, I am not sure how many times he would connect like he did there,” said Bowen.

“Perhaps we switched off a little bit coming out and leaving him there, but our keeper has one other shot to save against a side who have won 14 of their last 17 and the top goalscorers away from home across the division.

“I have come out of a dressing room and, again, for the third game in a row, they feel as though we haven’t got what we deserved. But believe me, there is a hell of a belief in there.

“My job is to make sure that we have got the right frame of mind for the next four games, but I know already that these lads have got that. 

“We’re in a battle – it is no cliche. We will take every game [as it comes] now – we will prepare the best that we can for Crewe Alexandra away. If we put a performance in such as we have done in the first three games that I have been here, I am fully confident we will come away with the three points.

“It is hard to describe because, with the 20-odd games now without a win, you would fully expect to come into a situation where you think: ‘We haven’t got much hope here.’ But believe me, if people think we are dead and buried, there is a long way to go.

“We have got to retain that belief, and we have definitely got it. We have got four games to go, and if we can win two of them, that will be enough. Bring it on – we are up for the challenge.”

PHOTOS: KEITH GILLARD