Dons intent on ‘clawing’ back teams above them in League Two – as win over Grimsby leaves them just outside play-offs

Johnnie Jackson says AFC Wimbledon are “clawing” other teams in as they moved four points of the League Two play-off spots following their 1-0 win over Grimsby Town today.

The only goal of the game came in the 60th minute after Harry Pell headed on a long throw-in and Ethan Chislett steered his shot from close range beyond Max Crocombe.

Wimbledon are unbeaten in the league in their last seven outings and have recorded four clean sheets in a row.

“We’re always looking up,” said Jackson. “We want to try and reel the team in that is above us. Then in the next game, we want to try and catch someone else.

“There will be little bumps in the road – there will be setbacks – but what is important as a group and as a club is that we’re moving in the right direction.

“We’re clawing people in. We’re in the top half of the table and we will keep giving everything we have got.”

Grimsby only registered one shot on target at Plough Lane on Saturday, with the back four of Jack Currie, Paul Kalambayi, Ryley Towler and Huseyin Biler winning 19 aerial battles between them.

“It was a really good defensive performance,” added Jackson.  “A clean sheet and there was a lot of spirit about the performance. We fought for every ball and fought for the points

“I’m really pleased with the defence. Today, it was a really young back line and inexperienced, and you would normally look at that area of the pitch as where you want your most experience, but those boys are doing great.

“We all take pride in the clean sheet – it’s not just for goalkeepers and defenders. My forwards enjoy them too because they start the press off first and start the hard work.

“The clean sheet is for the team.”