By Georgia Garnett at Meadow Lane
AFC Wimbledon boss Johnnie Jackson warned his players they have to get it right or they could be “hurt” by a Notts County side aiming to overturn a 1-0 League Two play-off semi-final first-leg deficit at Plough Lane on Saturday.
Riley Harbottle scored his first goal as a Don in the 59th minute at Meadow Lane last weekend.
County’s 22-goal top-scorer this season Alassana Jatta was sent off in added-time and will miss the second leg.
Jackson said: “It was a top performance, really strong, solid, professional, quality at times. We had to suffer at times, really dig in, but the attitude of the boys was just unbelievable, you can’t fault them and what they’re giving.
“They’re giving absolutely everything and we’re going to need to do that again because you’ve seen that Notts are a good side. But let’s enjoy [the win] because it was a really, really good performance.”
Goalkeepers Owen Goodman and former Don Alex Bass made several outstanding saves. Goodman denied Conor Grant three times.
“I know both of them very well, obviously,” Jackson said. “Bass made an unbelievable save from Johnno [Ryan Johnson] in the first half. Then at the other end OG’s [Goodman] made unbelievable saves – to get down and push that [shot from Grant] round was incredible. Two top goalkeepers on show, two good teams on show and when you get through the defensive lines, that’s when you need goalkeepers to come up trumps as well and OG’s done that for us.”
The Dons’ defence shone throughout, highlighted by Josh Neufville’s goal-line clearance in the 88th minute to preserve the lead.
Jackson added: “You know Josh, we talk about Josh because he’s a winger because he wants to get at people. But you know, he’s up against another top winger in [Jodi] Jones there and I thought defensively he did great against him, causing them problems when he’s going up that way but in that moment they get through, he hit it over the keeper, but Josh was there to clear off the line.
“That sort of attitude, that takes grit and determination to not give up on it – I think that epitomised the spirit of the boys.”
It was Nottingham-born Harbottle who produced the only goal of the match, giving his team an important lead at the halfway point of the semi-final.
Jackson praised his defender, saying: “I’m pleased for Riley because he defended really well, which is obviously the most important thing where he plays. But we know he can be a threat in the opposition box – we saw it last week at Grimsby where he comes up with that header that hits the bar, then Sam [Hutchinson] gets the rebound.
“He likes to go and attack it, he’s brave, he wants to put his body on the line defensively but also in the opposition box as well, and it was a really good header.”
Jackson added: “We’re pleased with [the win] of course, we’ve got a goal advantage and it was a really good performance so lots to like. But they’re going to come next week and they’re going have a right go like they did [on Saturday]. And they’ve got quality – we get it wrong, they can hurt you, so we need to do the same thing again, we need to have the same attitude.
“I’ve got no doubt in this group of lads that they’ll give absolutely everything until the very end.”
Saturday’s match kicks off at 12.30pm.
