By Rob Cornell
Harry Forrester is eager that the Dons put last night's disappointment quickly behind them and take key aspects of their play into the Rochdale game this Saturday.
The attacking midfielder came on as a second-half substitute for Dean Parrett at Roots Hall in the 1-0 defeat to Southend and feels he is nearing full-match fitness for Wimbledon.
"Games coming up against teams around us are vital, said Harry in an interview to our premium iFollow Dons channel.
"We can't shy away from that, we've got to be competing. Southend are a good outfit and we put up a good test and fell just short, but the good thing is we've got a chance on Saturday to put it right.
"I wouldn't say I'm 100 per-cent, but I'm there or thereabouts now. I've played 90 minutes, which was the target, I've come through that and I'm starting to get more minutes on a match day and eager to get some game time."
The Glasgow Rangers loanee knows that it can be about fine margins at this level and mistakes can prove to be costly, but he feels the Dons can learn from their latest defeat.
"We put in a great effort. It was just one moment – a lapse in concentration – that cost us the game. We're doing everything right in large spells at the moment, but games are won and lost in both boxes and at the moment we're falling short in both there.
"We went in at half-time and we were happy with how things were going. We set out a game plan and we executed that really well. The goal was disappointing, but we put them under a lot of pressure, but it was disappointing to lose the game.
"We did go for it towards the end. We 'sniffed' something was there and we thought we could get something from it. We had a couple of half chances – one dropped for 'Big D' (Darius Charles) and it's not hit the back of the net, but we gave everything and we've come up short in the end."
Harry is one of a number of players now returning to full-fitness and bolsters Neal Ardley's options for the games ahead. The former Brentford and Doncaster player was delighted for colleague Tom Soares, who increased his time on the pitch having come through 75 minutes.
"Tom did well and he's a big player for us," said Harry. "When everyone is fit we have got a good squad, but it's about turning that into wins or even draws away from home. It was a tough place to come and they're a good team, but we just need to tidy-up in certain areas a little bit more and we should be okay.
"We've got a good team spirit in the changing room and that's one area we're not lacking in. We all want the best for AFC Wimbledon, we've just got to try and get things right and when we do, we can go on a run and not look back."
The full interview with Harry Forrester and after match reaction from manager Neal Ardley are available to subscribers of our iFollow Dons channel, along with highlights of the Southend game.