Dons boss Hodges: We lacked belief to see out Plymouth game – we’ve got to lose anxiety

BY DANIEL MARSH

Glyn Hodges felt his side lacked the “belief” to see the game out in the aftermath of their 4-4 draw with Plymouth.

The Dons were leading 4-2 with just 20 minutes to go at The Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium. Goals from Shane McLoughlin, Ryan Longman and a brace from captain Joe Pigott had put the Dons in a commanding position.

But they conceded twice to leave them with just a solitary point at the end of a draining afternoon – with Hodges admitting his side need to show more steel to see games out.

“I’m happy with the squad. But it’s just sometimes, are they convinced they can win games? We’ve been down the bottom for so long, even since I’ve been in it’s been a relegation fight, and years before that. I don’t want to be in a relegation fight. It’s probably we get a bit anxious and a bit nervous when we get in front, but we’ve got to put that to bed.

“We’ve got goals in us – Pigs’ [Joe Pigott] has got two now, young Ryan Longman scored his first goal [today], so we’re looking a threat. It’s just other areas that we need to keep working on.

“The way we played in the first half, to come from behind and score three goals and go 4-2 up [is pleasing]. I just felt that we probably went backwards again [after that], not quite [having] that belief or that composure to get the job done.