‘Lads, we’re going to have to do this the hard way’ – Dons boss reflects on adversity ahead of Milton Keynes clash

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By Georgia Garnett

JOHNNIE Jackson knows AFC Wimbledon have been through significant adversity this season.

The pitch flooded, the injury bug hit and matches were postponed – yet the Dons currently find themselves in fourth place in League Two, just one point outside the automatic promotion spots. 

Head coach Jackson remains confident in his team and their ability to challenge for promotion heading into the final stretch of the season. 

Following a 2-0 victory against Tranmere Rovers last weekend, Jackson said: “I had faith in the group that we put together. I know it’s a difficult league so what you want to do is make yourself competitive.

“Having played everyone [aside from Crewe], I feel like we’re worthy to be where we are and we can mix it with everyone.

“On our day we are a match so why not, why can’t we be involved?”

In September, the banks of the River Wandle broke for the first time since the 1960s which caused parts of the pitch at Plough Lane to collapse. 

The club said over 100,000 litres of water had to be pumped out of the stadium, keeping the team away from Plough Lane for almost a month.

Jackson said: “When the pitch exploded, that was the first time this season when we said, ‘lads, we’re going to have to do this the hard way.’”

Then came the injuries.

One of the ways the Dons track their players’ health is through budget availability, looking at what percentage of the budget is in the squad, out on loan, injured, or suspended. 

According to figures from December, the club has had an average of 11 per cent of the budget injured since the start of last season.

In December, that figure was 31 per cent.

The team lost four players during the week of November’s fixture at Tranmere alone, including Callum Mayock and Ryan Johnson in the game itself, which forced the side to find a different style of play. 

That did not stop the Dons, who went on to win that match 2-0, a score replicated in last weekend’s reverse fixture. 

Wimbledon have had three matches postponed so far this season for reasons that were out of their control, losing one match due to the pitch and two consecutive matches to begin January due to snowfall.

Jackson’s side have two games in hand to the current second- and third-place teams Crewe Alexandra and Port Vale and a game in hand leaders Walsall. 

There is plenty of work ahead, and Jackson reckons his team are up to the challenge. 

“We knew every new game is a different challenge, but every time a challenge has been put in front of our lads, they’ve stood up to it,” Jackson said. 

“We’re on a good run so you just keep doing what you’re doing, you keep training hard, you keep your feet on the ground, you stay humble.”

The next challenge is one players and fans are relishing – away at Milton Keynes this Saturday at 12.30pm. 

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