Dons boss delivers verdict on unbeaten pre-season schedule and former Sutton forward’s first goal

Johnnie Jackson has given his verdict on AFC Wimbledon recording an unbeaten pre-season ahead of the 2023-24 League Two season kicking off next weekend.

The Dons have picked up wins over Reading, Wealdstone, Met Police and Portsmouth. Wimbledon have also drawn with QPR, Brentford B and Woking.

“I have to be pleased with it,” Jackson told the South London Press.

“You don’t get any trophies for pre-season, do you?

“But as far as pre-seasons go, I couldn’t be more pleased with it.

“The work that we have got done – bringing in the new players and bedding them into what we want. We look fit and we look ready.

“The real proof will be in the pudding in the coming weeks.”

Wimbledon’s final pre-seasontest saw them beat National League side Wealdstone 2-0 at The Vale, with goals from Omar Bugiel and Ali Al-Hamadi wrapping up the win.

Former Forest Green striker Bugiel scored his first goal for the club since joining from Sutton on a free transfer, heading home a Jack Currie cross after seven minutes.

“I have been really impressed with him,” added Jackson of the 29-year-old.

“I knew all about him from last season and what I had seen. And he’s brought all of that to the game.

“We want goals from him as well. He’s a centre forward and we want him to stay in between the posts – he’s as good as anyone in the air.

“If he gets the service, he’s capable of scoring those sorts of goals.”