Dons boss reveals ‘most important’ aspect to pre-season win over League One side Portsmouth
AFC Wimbledon picked up a 1-0 pre-season victory over League One side Porstmouth thanks to an own goal from Ben Stevenson.
The match-winning moment came in the 27th minute when Ali Al-Hamadi turned Ryley Towler on the edge of the box and sent a cross into the penalty area, which Stevenson turned beyond Pompey keeper Will Norris.
Dons boss Johnnie Jackson changed his entire starting 11 from the 1-1 draw with Championship outfit QPR on Saturday, with Harry Pell, Nik Tzanev, Alex Pearce, Al-Hamadi and Armani Little all coming into the side.
Wimbledon are unbeaten during pre-season and take on National League side Wealdstone in their first pre-season test on Saturday.
“It was a really good game against a tough opposition,” said Jackson.
“Coming up against a team in a higher division, a giant at that level, and coming out with a victory is really pleasing.
“The most important [aspect] was the performance and what I’m seeing with the stuff we’re working on – I’m seeing a lot of it come to fruition.
“It’s nice to win, but seeing the elements that we’re working on every day coming alive on the pitch is what you want at this stage.
“What I wanted from the night when you’re changing the whole 11 is for it to look and feel like the performance on Saturday [against QPR] and with the stuff we have been working on.
“And it did – it was every bit of a good performance from a completely different 11. But it looked like the same team, which shows that the stuff that we’re working on is being implemented.
“It was a solid performance and we kept a clean sheet – I have to be pleased with it.”
PICTURE: LUCY DIXON
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