JOHNNIE Jackson has warned AFC Wimbledon they face trouble in League One if they don’t raise their standards after a third successive pre-season defeat without scoring.
The Dons lost 1-0 to Southend at Roots Hall after a 3-0 loss to Millwall at Plough Lane and 2-0 setback at Sutton United.
Wimbledon start their league campaign against Luton Town at Kenilworth Road this Friday (August 1).
“Obviously it didn’t cost us points on this occasion, but if we perform like that when League One starts up, it will,” Jackson said. “You won’t win any game of football by serving up what we served up against Southend.
“It’s not good enough. I won’t accept stuff like that and if we’re not going to do our jobs then you aren’t going to play.
“There’s lots for me to think about and work on. We need to work hard on the training pitch this week and find a way that we’re going to be better than what we’ve seen. We will be though, I know we will be, but there’s no getting away from this performance – it was poor.”
“It was well below what I expect and well below what these boys set for themselves – certainly the ones that have been with me and the standards that they set. We’ve fallen well below and were second-best across the pitch.
“We lost too many duels. We lost too many battles and there was not enough quality when we did have the ball. It was a disappointing performance.”
Jackson is still looking forward to the Hatters clash.
“[Friday’s] game is one to lick your lips over,” Jackson said. “I can’t wait for it. I’m disappointed with what I’ve seen, but I know that we’re going to crack on in the week.
“We’re going to turn up at Luton and it’ll be a difficult game, but we’ll have a full away end, supporting and getting behind us and the boys will need to step on the pitch and be the team that we know we can be.
“Hopefully we’ll have a couple back by then – Joe Lewis and Marcus Browne – which would make a difference. We’re a few short with our knocks and the fact that we need to bring some bodies in, but whoever goes on the pitch against Luton – they need to be better than what we were against Southend.”
Meanwhile, Wimbledon have Sheffield United striker Antwoine Hackford on a free transfer. He has signed a two-year contract with the club possessing an option of a further year.
The Dons have also brought in Charlton Athletic defender Nathan Asiimwe on a season-long loan.
