‘He looked like a man out there’ – Dons boss Johnnie Jackson praises 19-year-old’s first League Two start

AFC Wimbledon boss Johnnie Jackson heaped praise on Isaac Ogundere after the 19-year-old made his first League Two start for the club in the 2-2 draw with Bradford City.

Ogundere, who has started both EFL Trophy wins and the EFL Cup loss to Gillingham this season under Johnnie Jackson, was handed his first start in league football at Valley Parade.

Starting in the right wing-back role in place of Chris Gunter, who was called up to Robert Page’s Wales squad, Ogundere played the full 90 minutes as the Dons ended their four-game losing streak in the league.

Versatile full-back Paul Osew was also missing after picking up an ankle injury in the 3-2 EFL Trophy win against Crawley Town in midweek.

“I thought the young lad was magnificent,” Jackson told Wimbledon’s media after the game.

“I spoke before the game to the group about how we needed to be a team – I wanted a team performance that was 11 starters and five to come off the bench.

“But I had to single him out for praise in the dressing room. For a full league debut, he was magnificent.

“The energy that he brought us up and down that wing, his commitment to the game plan and to his defending, and also to what he brought us in attack as well.

“He was cramping up towards the end. I kept asking him if he was alright, and he kept saying: ‘Yeah, I’ll get through it.’

“For me, he looked like a man out there.”

OGUNDERE PICTURE: LUCY DIXON

JACKSON PICTURE: KEITH GILLARD