‘Completely unacceptable’ – Johnnie Jackson laments AFC Wimbledon’s first half performance in MK defeat
AFC Wimbledon boss Johnnie Jackson lamented his side’s first-half performance in their 3-1 defeat at Milton Keynes on Tuesday evening.
The Dons found themselves 3-0 down after 22 minutes through goals from Dan Kemp, Warren O’Hara and an own goal from Ryan Johnson.
Jackson’s side had a chance to pull one back before half-time, but James Tilley placed Aron Sasu’s pull back way over the crossbar.
Armani Little pulled one back for Wimbledon in the 53rd minute – pouncing on a poor goal-kick routine from the hosts to score from close range.
But two second-half red cards – with Huseyin Biler and Paul Kalambayi being issued with straight sending-offs for fouls on forward Max Dean – killed off any comeback.
The first half was completely unacceptable,” Jackson told AFC Wimbledon’s YouTube channel.
“It wasn’t good enough for us as a football club. It wasn’t good enough for the supporters who were here or the supporters who were back home.
“It was unrecognisable from the team we have been this season. That’s the most frustrating thing – it didn’t look like us.
“We didn’t start or show anything that we’re good at and had success with this season.
“We haven’t shown a thing that we’re good at in that first half – we have been second to everything.
“We have given away three goals from soft defending. It’s hard to take.
“We had some words at half-time – we needed to do something different to see a reaction.
“It gives us something to take into the next couple of days and at home on Saturday.
“We have gone and shown a lot of spirit in that second half, but it’s too late – the game has gone.
“We get one, and we’re up in the game, but the sending-offs take the game away from us.
“It makes it impossible with nine. It’s hard enough with 10, let alone nine, but we showed a bit of resilience with nine and kept them out.
“Sometimes you get away with a lacklustre 45 in football, but at 3-0, it’s very hard to come back into it.”
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