Manager's reaction after Hartlepool
Neal Ardley admitted his frustration at the manner of defeat after the Dons were beaten at Hartlepool United today.
Speaking during an interview for Dons Player after the 1-0 loss at Victoria Park, Neal said: “I thought the boys gave everything, but we lacked a bit of composure. We got in two or three good areas when we never had that composure with the cross and the finishing was not good enough. They have given everything, but the most frustrating thing is we switched off to a second phase from a set-piece. It’s been a bit of an Achilles heel all season. We put so much effort into our preparation to travel up here and that moment has left us chasing us the game.
“I did not think they threatened us massively. They hit the post with a shot from outside the box, but I felt that we were comfortable. In the second-half it was one-way traffic, but between their goal and their back four they deserve a bit of credit. The boys are frustrated by it because they care so much. We have to go again on Monday because we are playing one of the toughest teams in the league and we have to respond.
“It’s simple as we have eight games left and we have to win at least five, but we know it is doable. We have to start on Monday and if we don’t win that we have seven games to earn five victories. We won seven out of eight earlier this season so we know that we can do it.”
Wimbledon finished the game at Victoria Park today with three up front and Neal said the Dons gave everything to earn a late equaliser.
Unfortunately, we came up short because we did not take those chances.” “We tried every way,” Neal added. “We had two clever forwards on, but it was not quite working. It did not look like we were going to get on the end of any crosses. We wanted to try something different and we put Tom on for his height. We had three up front and if we could have got enough balls into the box we could have caused them a problem. Two or three of them have fallen to Ade Azeez, but the keeper has made a save and he’s missed one at the far post.
Neal Ardley added that Paul Robinson was not included in the squad due to a thigh injury.
The full interview with Neal Ardley is now on Dons Player.