‘Second best’ – AFC Wimbledon boss Johnnie Jackson laments first-half performance in Accrington defeat

AFC Wimbledon boss Johnnie Jackson admitted his side were clearly second best in the first half as they suffered a 4-2 defeat at home to Accrington Stanley on Tuesday evening.

The Dons had the worst possible start and quickly found themselves 2-0 down after just nine minutes.

Accrington put themselves 1-0 up when Alex Bass saved Josh Andrews’ shot, only for Joe Pritchard to react quickest inside the area to bundle the ball past the Sunderland loanee.

The visitors then doubled their lead with a stunning 25-yard half-volley from Tommy Leigh that bounced off the crossbar and into the back of the net.

Joe Pritchard grabbed his second of the afternoon 24 seconds into the second half, following up Rosaire Longelo’s after Alex Bass parried away an effort into the path of the Accrington number 10.

Wimbledon pulled one back when Ali Al-Hamadi collected the ball inside Accrington’s half and drove towards the penalty area, squaring to substitute Omar Bugiel to slot past Jon McCracken.

Bugiel then bagged his second in the 70th minute when he steered Armani Little’s corner into the back of the net.

But a late fourth goal from Accrington defender Brad Hills – who was left unmarked at the back post from a free-kick – killed off Wimbledon’s chances of securing a comeback.

Jackson said: “We were second best in every aspect of the game in that first half.

“We gave ourselves too much to do. We responded and came back into it, but the first half has cost us – it was way below what standards we had set for ourselves.

“Poor goals to concede and it’s not been us at all.

“We had the second-best defensive record coming into the game, so we have been solid – we haven’t given up much.

“Tonight was one of those nights where everything seemed to go wrong. It’s a bit of an anomaly because we hadn’t seen that coming – we had no evidence to suggest that was about to happen.

“We will have to have a look at it. We like to think it was a one-off and a really poor half of football has cost us.”

PICTURE: KEITH GILLARD