‘We have to start loving being in front again’ – Dons head coach Robinson reflects on 2-2 draw

Mark Robinson wants his AFC Wimbledon side to cope better with going a goal ahead but was pleased with the patience that they showed to eventually find the equaliser in their 2-2 draw with Cheltenham Town.

The Dons took the lead after eight minutes when Ayoub Assal capitalised on Cheltenham’s failure to clear the danger and struck a low drive into the far left-hand corner.

However, despite controlling the game for the first half an hour, the Dons let their lead slip within the space of three minutes.

Kion Etete broke past Will Nightingale and unselfishly set up Alfie May for Cheltenham’s first goal in the 31st minute.

The visitors then had the opportunity to take the lead when Nik Tzanev brought May down inside the area in the 34th minute. May sent the New Zealand goalkeeper the wrong way.

Aaron Cosgrave scored his first goal for the club in the 79th-minute with a left-footed shot to salvage a point and secure Wimbledon’s fifth draw from their last six games.

The Dons also took the early lead in their 1-1 draw with Shrewsbury last Saturday but were forced to settle for a point.

“They had moments, but I don’t think they really troubled us. After the goal we have had a crazy five minutes but, apart from that, we were in the ascendancy and the better side,” said Robinson.

“I was pleased with how the lads kept their patience because a few of the fans obviously wanted us to whack it forward, but we haven’t got a big man up there, so it’s only coming back with interest if you do that.

“We did well to keep our patience, keep working the ball into wide areas, try and get overloads, and try to get quality crosses in (the box) that would give us a chance to score.

“I was pleased, but we didn’t do that after we scored our [first] goal. We have got to start loving being in front again and have a better plan when we go one up so that we can get that second goal.

“It was the same on Saturday, and again tonight, we have gone one up, and we started doing some random things.

“Once that happens, we can do what we did last year and what we did earlier in the season by racking up three or four goals. I see no reason why that won’t happen.”

PICTURES: LUCY DIXON