AFC Wimbledon boss Johnnie Jackson said he got the response he wanted as the Dons kept a clean sheet in their 0-0 draw against Stevenage at Plough Lane on Boxing Day.
Wimbledon conceded three goals from set-pieces in their 3-1 defeat to Northampton at Sixfields in their previous game.
Jackson picked out the positives despite an eight successive league game without a win as they slipped to fourteenth in League One.
“I wanted a response from Friday, because we threw points away in that game,” Jackson said. “I credited the opposition that night for how they exploited us, but I think it was lapses of concentration that cost us.
“Today, we were absolutely fully focused on the defensive side of the job and we’d done that, so I was really pleased against a good team, we’ve had more of the game and we were probably the dominant team.
“We didn’t create, for all our dominance, we need to create more – maybe just be a little bit more positive and assertive in the final third. Whether that’s the quality of the cross, getting shots off. I felt like we could have got some shots off quicker than we did.
“But we got there, we got to the final third, moved the ball well, really well at times and we’re just trying to evolve our style a little bit and just try and be a little less predictable. I thought we’d done that well in moments, but obviously not enough to go and get the win.
“I thought we were the dominant team, had more possession, more passes, got probably into their final third more, but probably haven’t worked the ‘keeper enough for all of that dominance.
“I’m not saying we completely dominated the game, but I felt like we were in the ascendancy, probably didn’t make the ‘keeper do enough and that’s probably why we didn’t win it and we only got a draw.”
Omar Bugiel made his 100th league appearance for the Dons.
Jackson said: “I’m really pleased for Omar. It’s a great milestone at any club. It doesn’t happen that often these days in football.
“Players move around quite a lot more these days than they used to, shorter contracts, things like that, so to get to 100 is a really good milestone for him.
“He’s been a top player for us since I brought him in and I brought him in for that reason: to really be a part of what we’re doing. He’s a proper Wimbledon player.
“He gets it. He wants to be involved. I think he loves playing his football here. He’s got competition up that end of the pitch, you know. So, he’s got the shirt today and he’s done really well in his time here. To get to 100 is a really good achievement.”
Wimbledon host Exeter City on Monday (7.45pm).
