Dons boss Jackson claims injury issues have been a factor in their defensive struggles

BY JACK BURGESS

Johnnie Jackson has expressed his frustration at Wimbledon’s injury woes and has claimed that it’s been a key factor in his side’s defensive struggles this season.

The Dons’ have conceded 12 goals in their last four games in League Two and have one clean sheet in their last 14 games.

Wimbledon’s defensive issues have been a major contributing factor in their poor second half of the campaign, having picked up just 13 points in 2023 – the lowest tally in the division.

Jackson said: “We’ve had to chop and change so much at the back due to injuries and suspensions. Players starting games and having to come off, and we’ve then had to rejig the team. It’s happened countless times this season.”

Jackson’s side went 10 league games unbeaten from the end of October through to the end of December, winning six and drawing four. In that time the side conceded just seven goals and kept five clean sheets.

“We had a settled team where we weren’t making many changes,” said Jackson. “We were able to just grind results and clean sheets out. But since then, with the injuries, we’ve had no consistency with our team selection. Unfortunately, that has made it difficult.

“If you look at the better teams in the league, they all have really settled teams. Unfortunately, since the turn of the year we just haven’t been able to do that.”

Wimbledon fans were disgruntled by their side’s heavy defeat on Saturday and made their feelings heard towards Jackson.

When asked about the reaction from the crowd, Jackson said: “I understand it. That’s supporters and that’s their right. They are passionate about their team.

“It’s disappointing for me, obviously, because I’m so passionate about this job and this football club and delivering what they want. We’ve shown many times this season that we can deliver, when we have the tools, what the fans want to see.

“I’m a big boy – you go into management knowing that you’re going to have these spells and disappointments. It will make me more resilient and I will work tirelessly during the close season to make sure that next season we don’t have to witness that again.”

PICTURES: LUCY DIXON