‘Not going to suffer another season of mediocrity’ – Dons boss sends warning to squad after Mansfield defeat
AFC Wimbledon boss Johnnie Jackson has warned that members of his squad are playing for their futures after the 3-1 defeat at home to Mansfield last Saturday.
The Dons have suffered three defeats on the bounce, slipping to 15th in League Two and 14 points adrift of the play-offs.
Wimbledon took the lead in the 25th minute against Mansfield through Ali-Al Hamadi, but a strike five minutes later from Riley Harbottle before two second-half goals from Danny Johnson and KD Davis gave the Stags all three points.
“I’m not going to let the season peter out,” said Jackson. “We want to finish strong, win games, and finish as high as we can.
“In the meantime, [also] find out where we want to go next season and who wants to be a part of that.
“I have got big ambitions, and the football club has got big ambitions – were not going to suffer another season of mediocrity.
“I need to see who has the same mindset and mentality to what I and the football club have to take that where we need to go to.”
Wimbledon have taken the lead in their last four outings but have failed to hold on to their advantage against Hartlepool, Gillingham, Stevenage and Mansfield.
“It’s not a lack of effort – it’s a team giving everything,” said Jackson. “We’re a team in a bad period, and I don’t feel that we’re getting what we deserved out of games, but I’m getting annoyed at myself for having to keep saying that. Over a season, you’re going to get what you deserve.
“We’re playing really well for periods. In 60 or 70 minutes in a game, we’re generally being the dominant team – but in the other 20 minutes, it is costing us. It can’t be right that 20 minutes of a game is being the difference.”
Wimbledon will be without Harry Pell, Diallang Jaiyesimi, Huseyin Biler and Lee Brown for the trip to Doncaster on Saturday, with all four sidelined through injury.
Rovers, managed by former Millwall midfielder Danny Schofield, are 13th – five points above the South Londoners – and drew 0-0 at Stockport last weekend.
These two sides played out a 2-2 draw at Plough Lane in August.
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