Post-match reaction from the manager
Neal Ardley said he was disappointed with his side’s reaction to going behind after Wimbledon’s unbeaten home run was ended by Cambridge United.
Neal felt there was nothing between the two sides until a pivotal moment in the second-half when Bayo Akinfenwa missed a golden chance and then Cambridge struck what turned out to be the winner.
Speaking to Rob Cornell during an interview for Dons Player, Neal Ardley said: “The big criticism of us is that for the last 30 minutes we lost our way. We became ragged and started playing as individuals. That was an eagerness to try and get back into the game. It had been a very competitive game up until their second goal. Bayo had a clear chance to put us 2-1 up and everybody thought it had gone in. If we had scored then we would have had a lead to protect. We could have seen it out and everyone goes home happy. But a minute after Bayo’s miss we switched off from a free-kick and the pendulum swung their way.
“For 60 minutes it was an even game against a strong and well organised team. We cannot expect to roll these teams over. It was a poor reaction from us to going behind and that was the disappointing thing. We lost our shape and our discipline.”
Next Sunday’s FA Cup tie at Wycombe Wanderers offers the excitement of a potential third round place in the competition and Neal Ardley said he will be expecting a reaction from his players.
“We’re obviously disappointed, but there’s only one thing we can do now and that’s to pick ourselves up and go again,” Neal added. “We will get to work and demand a reaction again. We got that after the Wycombe and Northampton games. We have to try and find that consistency. We win as a team and we lose as a team.”
The full post-match reaction with Neal Ardley appeared on Dons Player earlier and an interview with Sammy Moore will follow tomorrow.