Our second-half fightback was quickly extinguished as Carlisle United overcame an Ayoub Assal equaliser to emerge as 2-1 winners at Brunton Park.

A Callum Guy strike on the stroke of half-time saw Wimbledon head in behind at the break following a half of good approach play, but very little in the way of end product.

Something clicked into gear midway through the second 45 minutes as we levelled through Assal after good work from Josh Davison and Nik Tzanev.

However, that optimism and pick me up feel was quickly ended as Kristian Dennis headed home at the back post.

Late efforts to steal a point proved to be in vain and the Dons headed back south empty-handed.

Jackson made two changes to the side which lost out to Northampton Town on Tuesday with George Marsh and Jack Currie coming in for Harry Pell and Nathan Young-Coombes -  this in turn meant a change in formation too as we reverted to a three at the back.

Meanwhile, Alfie Bendle was named on the bench for the game up in Cumbria.

It was a fast start on a perfect pitch, with both sides testing each other with dangerous low deliveries - Currie and Lee Brown in particular were certainly combining well in the early stages. When Tzanev was tested at the other end, he dealt with Carlisle’s efforts with the minimum of fuss.

Alex Pearce was then forced into making a vital challenge as Jordan Gibson looked almost certain to score after being put through.

It was then the turn of Wimbledon to create an opening as Currie’s cross from the left-side was struck wide on the half-volley by Marsh.

The Dons headed into the break with a deficit to overcome though after conceding on the stroke of half-time, a Callum Guy shot took a slight deflection and found its way into the net.

Following a slow start to the second-half, we looked to switch things up with Pell and Osew being introduced in a bid to change the tide of the game.

Our side then found an equaliser out of nothing. A long kick from Tzanev was headed on by Davison, with Assal calmly slotting past the onrushing Tomas Holy to fire us back into life.

There was then another good chance for us as Paris Maghoma dragged his shot wide of the far post after working some room well in the penalty area.

The midfielder then won a free-kick in a promising position after a driving run, but Pell could only strike the resulting effort into the hands of Holy.

However, it was the hosts who would retake the lead as a Omari Patrick cross was headed on by Jack Armer for Dennis to finish at the back post.

Assal then had a good chance in stoppage time to level the scores once more as he fired over the bar following a good knock-down by substitute Kyle Hudlin, but it was too little, too late.

AFC Wimbledon: Nik Tzanev, Chris Gunter, Lee Brown, Josh Davison (Kyle Hudlin), Ayoub Assal, Ethan Chislett (Harry Pell), Ryley Towler (Paul Osew), Alex Pearce, Paris Maghoma, Jack Currie

PICS: Simon Davies (Pro Sports Images)