‘The mind boggles’ – Dons boss on unpunished foul in build-up to Sutton United’s winner

Johnnie Jackson felt Sutton United’s goal should have been disallowed for a foul in the build-up as they beat AFC Wimbledon 1-0 at Plough Lane.

Sutton took the lead in the 30th minute. A free-kick from Robert Milsom saw Joseph Mohamed Kizzi clatter into Jack Currie, which resulted in the Dons left-back knocking the ball out of Nik Tzanev’s grasp.

The loose ball was followed up by Craig Eastmond, who gave the visitors the first-half lead and the eventual game clincher.

“It’s a foul on Jack Currie. His shirt was being pulled, and he was nudged into Nik Tzanev,” Dons boss Jackson told Wimbledon’s official website.

“I guess that’s why the referee hasn’t given it because it was our own player who has collided with him, but he has been forced to collide with Tzanev because of the attacking player.

“It seemed like an easy decision to make. He is probably the only one in the stadium who thought that it wasn’t a foul, but he’s the only one who matters, really. The mind boggles at that one a bit.

“I think the referee spoke to the linesman, but you have to wonder what role they’re playing. The fourth official is there telling me that it wasn’t a foul. Between them, they have got it wrong.”

Jackson’s side only recorded one shot on target during the 90 minutes.

“It’s disappointment, anger and frustration,” said Jackson when asked about his emotions following the Dons’ seventh defeat of their League Two season.

“The reaction to the second half, I’m not best pleased with.

“The things we spoke about all week, about how we’re going to hurt them, what we’re going to do and how brave we need to be with the ball, I don’t think we implemented it well enough.

“In the second half, we haven’t made their goalkeeper work nearly enough. Obviously, the complexion of the game has changed because you’re playing a team who have got a lead to protect, but at the same time, we haven’t done enough to exploit and hurt them.

“Not enough of us have stepped up to the plate. With the qualities I see from these players every day in training, you have to ask, what are you bringing to the party? What are your strengths? And are you translating that on to the pitch?

“I see a good team every day in training – the preparation has been spot on, but it hasn’t been translated on to the pitch. We all have to take responsibility for that – myself, the staff and the players.

“You have got to be able to handle these occasions, but perhaps in that second half, we didn’t.”

MAIN PICTURE: KEITH GILLARD