AFC Wimbledon failed to make it two wins in a week as a lowly Rochdale side emerged as 1-0 winners on Saturday afternoon.

Our side came into today’s game full of hope off the back of a morale boosting victory in midweek, however we couldn’t re-find the levels we had set in that game as we put together a disjointed display against the League Two’s bottom side.

Aside from two efforts from Armani Little and Alfie Bendle that flew narrowly off target we largely failed to create any real opportunities of note, owing mainly to the lack of effective final balls.

The final six games present a chance to finish the season strongly, however this type of performance will sit in the back of our minds as another opportunity missed on home turf.

Johnnie Jackson named the same side which ran out as 2-0 winners over Walsall on Tuesday. Meanwhile the likes of Diallang Jaiyesimi and Lee Brown returned to the bench after being out injured.

After a quiet opening quarter Little fired an effort just off target as Wimbledon began to grow in confidence. Meanwhile Isaac Ogundere showed good timing as he put in a vital challenge to stop a Rochdale attack.

The Dons continued to work the ball well up to the half hour mark but failed to really cut through our opponents. When we did go close we found Richard O’Donnell in good form, as he denied Will Nightingale a second goal in as many games.

A well worked free-kick then saw Ethan Chislett fire straight at the Dale keeper as we were continually frustrated.

After the break it was a case of sustaining the pressure on the visitors. However we were no closer to making a break through as the hour mark came and went, leading to the introduction of Ali Al-Hamadi and Sam Pearson off the bench.

It was our opponents who found the breakthrough, with Danny Lloyd firing home after finding space outside the area. Jaiyesimi, Brown and Bendle were both introduced in response to this as we sought to regain a foothold in the game.

Although we got into good areas, we couldn’t quite match the quality in the form of deliveries into the box, resulting in a disappointing defeat.

AFC Wimbledon: Nathan Broome, Alex Woodyard (Diallang Jaiyesimi), Will Nightingale, George Marsh (Alfie Bendle), Saikou Janneh (Ali Al-Hamadi), Ethan Chislett, Aaron Pierre, Armani Little, Kasey McAteer (Sam Pearson), Jack Currie (Lee Brown), Isaac Ogundere  

Attendance: 7,380 (261 away)

PICS: Ian Stephen (Pro Sports Images)