Johnnie Jackson: ‘Dons must not let FA Cup defeat linger with League Two the bigger picture’

BY MITCHELL HALL

Johnnie Jackson said AFC Wimbledon must quickly brush off their 2-1 FA Cup second round defeat to National League side on Saturday and turn their full focus onto the bigger picture of getting out of League Two.

The visitors opened the scoring through Junior Morias but were pegged back by Matty Stevens just before the stroke of half-time before they eventually found a scrappy winner courtesy of substitute Josh Rees.

The first half was marred by bizarre scenes in which referee Craig Hicks was forced off the pitch due to a calf injury, prompting a halt in play until the stadium announcer asked if there were any qualified officials in the crowd.

A member of the crowd was found and held in reserve but was not called upon to officiate as the game got underway again.

The Daggers fans erupted as Morias’ long-range strike snuck into the bottom left corner in the 35th minute but would be denied a half-time lead through Stevens’ control and finish off the back of a James Furlong cross in the fifth minute of nine added on.

But the FA Cup would work its magic again before the full-time whistle, as a 79th-minute Dagenham corner was flapped at by Owen Goodman before dropping into a melee of bodies in the penalty area, eventually finding its way goalwards off the boot of Rees to send the away fans into rapture.

“It was just one of those frustrating nights,” Jackson said.

“We had most of the ball and we got into some good situations but didn’t capitalise on those moments. The last ball, the last cross, the decision-making in that final third, whatever it was, was a bit off.

“We knew it was going to be a difficult game, they came here to frustrate us, which they did. They’ve had two shots on target and got two goals from it, so they’ve been clinical in their moments.”

However, Jackson was keen to keep his eyes on the promotion prize and get his side looking forward to Tuesday’s League Two clash with Newport County at Plough Lane.

“I’m frustrated,” he said.

“It hurts, but the players are feeling that, too.

“We can’t feel sorry for ourselves, we can’t let it linger. We will recover tomorrow, get back on the training pitch on Monday, and be ready to work.

“The bigger picture for us is obviously the league. That’s not to belittle tonight – we wanted to win. But we have to move on.”

PICTURE: ALAMY