AFC Wimbledon boss questions his side’s lack of cutting edge in loss to Walsall

Johnnie Jackson says his side need to be “more ruthless” to turn solid performances into wins against top opposition after their 1-0 loss against Walsall this afternoon.

The Dons found themselves on the wrong side of a closely-contested match at Plough Lane against the League Two promotion hopefuls, courtesy of a goal from Nathan Lowe.

The home crowd was in uproar when striker Omar Bugiel was bundled over in the box in the first half but the referee waved the spot-kick appeals away.

An in-form Lowe gave the visitors the lead early in the second period, tapping a low David Okagbue cross into the net from close range in the 52nd minute.

Wimbledon piled on the pressure for the rest of the half, swinging cross after cross into the danger area, but failed to connect convincingly with any of them before the final whistle sounded.

“Difficult conditions today, there’s nothing in that game really,” said Jackson. “It was really close, hard fought, but they came up with the moment and we didn’t.

“We weren’t ruthless enough and in both boxes we switched off.

“I keep saying that in close defeats against good teams, we are coming out the wrong side of games where we should at least get something. Today it probably should be a draw.”

Jackson particularly targeted his side’s lack of ability to generate goals from their large volume of crosses and set-piece deliveries against the Saddlers.

“We are getting good deliveries, we have big enough lads there that should be getting their head on something, I expect more,” said Jackson.

“We work tirelessly on it and it’s not paying off at the minute but we have to believe that it will.

“You always get a chance in football to put it right and we get one in three days, which is good on the back of a defeat.

“I say to the players that if you’re in the team and you’ve got the shirt, don’t give it back to me, if you’re doing the business you stay in.

“If the players aren’t going to be more ruthless, then I have got to be more ruthless in my team selection.”

PICTURES: KEITH GILLARD