Johnnie Jackson plays down AFC Wimbledon’s flying start to season

Posted Sunday, September 01, 2024 by PA

Johnnie Jackson called on AFC Wimbledon’s players not to get complacent after they recorded their third League Two win in four games with a 1-0 victory against Fleetwood.

Josh Neufville scored in the 28th minute to cap a great week for the Dons, who beat Premier League side Ipswich in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday.

Fleetwood pushed for an equaliser during a physical second half but Jackson’s side held firm to keep all three points in South West London.

Jackson was proud of how his team responded to an exceptional win in midweek.

“It is not just the physical side, it is the emotional side and what that takes out of the group,” he said.

“That is all we have really been focusing on in the little time that we have had to prepare for this because it has come around quickly.

“I thought the lads and the way that they dug in again and just stuck to the task when they were running on empty, they got the job done.

“I just said to the lads there, it has been a great start, but the important word there is start.

“We have not done anything yet, we are obviously pleased with how it is going.

“The lads are doing great, they are giving everything and there is a lot of positivity and optimism around the place.

“We just have to keep feeding that and keep believing in what we are doing.”

Charlie Adam was less pleased with his side’s performance.

The former Liverpool midfielder admitted that his team lacked a spark at the Cherry Red Records Stadium.

“Listen, you are always disappointed when you lose games and we will pick the bones out of it on the way back,” he added.

“We never really had that bright spark within the game like we have had so far this season, so yeah, I am disappointed with that result.

“We knew that (that Wimbledon are good from set-pieces), but I do not think that they were dominant in terms of set-plays if you look at how they scored their goal, we feel like there was a foul in the box.

“We feel like we had a legitimate goal over the line, we have had half chances.

“Overall, we are disappointed with the whole day, there was no real spark to what we were trying to do today.

“We had some nice passages but not enough and when you come away from home, you have to do the simple things well.

“I think they have done the dark arts of the game a little bit better than we have today.”