AFC Wimbledon boss Johnnie Jackson rallied his troops after their 1-0 defeat to Stockport County at Edgeley Park on Easter Monday by insisting they are capable of winning their last four games of the regular League Two season.
The Dons are three points outside the play-off places having played more games than their rivals above them after Odin Bailey scored with five minutes left to help the leaders extend their advantage at the top to four points.
Jackson’s side had the chance to take the lead on 34 minutes after Omar Bugiel had been fouled by Fraser Horsfall, but James Tilley fired wide from the penalty spot.
James Ball had the ball in the net for the Dons but referee Lewis Smith had whistled for a foul.
“It’s tough to take after getting so far into the game and to have the lads give absolutely everything for each other and for the shirt,” Jackson said. “We had some really good moments, our game plan worked, as we came here to frustrate them and limit the spaces. We shut them down for the best part of 95 minutes and then we switched off in that one moment.
“We didn’t have enough chances to go and win the game, but a free hit from twelve yards is as good a chance as any that you’re going to get to score. Josh Neufville’s is also a really good chance that on another day he takes. You’re never going to come here and have ten to twelve chances.
“If you come here and you get things wrong you can concede a hat-load. We limited them to very little. The good defensive structure we had allowed us to counter-attack and have moments. If you want to win it you have to take those chances.”
Jackson added: “There’s four games to go and they’re all games that I feel like we’re capable of winning. If we do that I think it puts us close. We feel gutted at the moment but we’ll pick the boys up and look to show the spirit we showed today as it could take us a long way.”
Wimbledon play Salford City at Plough Lane on Saturday at 3pm.
