JOHNNIE Jackson hopes last night’s epic effort in AFC Wimbledon’s narrow 2-1 defeat at Chelsea will boost his side’s belief they can challenge for promotion from League Two.
The Dons took just under 4,300 fans to Stamford Bridge and they had plenty to cheer when James Tilley fired the visitors into a shock 19th minute lead from the penalty spot.
Wimbledon were on the brink of going in at the interval with their advantage still intact, only to be pegged back on the stroke of half-time by Noni Madueke’s penalty.
Chelsea had already introduced Nicolas Jackson, Malo Gusto and Enzo Fernandez by the time they grabbed what proved to be the winner on 72 minutes.
And it was Argentine Fernandez, a £107million signing, who struck the decisive goal after capitalising on a mistake by the otherwise outstanding Dons keeper Alex Bass.
That was hard to take for the impressive visitors, but their manager took plenty of positives afterwards as Wimbledon look to maintain their unbeaten start in the league.
He said: “We came into the game with belief because of the start to the season we’ve had and I think that gave us the confidence to approach the game the way that we did – to come here and really take it to Chelsea.
“I think that should just double down our belief the fact that we’ve come here and given them the type of game and headaches that we have.
“We’ve had to do it in a different way and approach the game differently to what we would do in a League Two game ie preparing to not have the ball for long periods but being disciplined in our shape and stuff like that.
“We’ve had to do it a different way tonight, haven’t quite got the result but I think we can take so much belief and heart from it.”
The Plough Lane boss was also full of praise for the huge travelling contingent who cheered his side on from the first whistle to the last.
Jackson said: “I think it is a great night for the club. We knew what it would be like when the draw came out.
“If they had let us have more tickets we would have sold them too.
“There was such an appetite and enthusiasm for the game, buoyed on now by the performance and the scenes at the end with the supporters – you can tell how behind this team they are and the positivity there is in the football club because of the start of the season we’ve had.
“But I think what they are seeing the lads do is fight and give everything for the shirt.
“First and foremost, that is what Wimbledon fans expect and that is what we demand as a staff.
“They are doing that tenfold. I can’t fault them for that so I think they appreciate what they are seeing from the lads.”
The fact Chelsea opposite number Mauricio Pochettino had to make the changes he did was indicative of the problems Wimbledon caused their super wealthy hosts according to Jackson.
He explained: “We knew they were on the bench and to be honest their manager is probably thinking and hoping he doesn’t have to use them tonight and they can have a night off.
“I think it is testament and credit to my team that we got them to a position in the game that he has had to make those changes and bring £200million plus players onto the pitch.
“That is credit to us and how we made them approach the game obviously know that extra quality was coming onto the pitch but I think in the last 10/15 minutes of the game we are pressing, we are trying to counter and we had our moments.
“Certainly we weren’t just taking the defeat on the chin, we were trying to get at them.
“We had a couple of moments there towards the end where we might have done.”
It is back to reality now though for Jackson’s cup heroes, who this weekend head to the slightly less glamorous location of Newport County.
“That (Chelsea game) would have taken a lot out of my players physically and mentally,” he said.
“It is a quick turnaround. It will be different type of game and a different type of test.
“But if we want to be a team that is relentless in what we do in our pursuit of success, then you dust yourself down after nights like this and you go to Newport, you turn up and you have a go as well.
“That is what I am going to do.”
