Dons manager Mark Bowen: We have to win Saturday’s match at Fleetwood Town

AFC Wimbledon boss Mark Bowen says that his side have to win against relegation rivals Fleetwood this weekend after drawing 1-1 with Wycombe at Plough Lane on Monday.

Jack Rudoni opened the scoring in the 21st minute with his 10th goal of the season when he diverted Alex Wooydard’s shot past David Stockdale.

But the Dons were denied their first win in 132 days after former Wimbledon player Adebayo Akinfenwa met Sullay Kaikai’s cross at the back post to equalise for the visitors with 10 minutes remaining.

The draw meant that Wimbledon stayed four points from safety heading into the final two games of the season. They travel to Fleetwood, a side just above them in the table, on Saturday.

“It’s five games now [since I was appointed],” said Bowen.

“If you split those five games into halves, I have been disappointed with these guys in the second half against Crewe last week, where we were hopeless, and the lads know that. And I have been disappointed with 30 minutes in the home game against Charlton.

“Every other period, they have given everything possible, and our belief is still there.

“It [the result against Wycombe] doesn’t change that much because, if we had won today, we would have still thought we need to go to Fleetwood next week and win.

“It is one game at a time. It means nothing if we go to Fleetwood and don’t win – we could be down next week.

“We know that, so we have got to go there, get the win, come out of the game, and come here [at Plough Lane] against Accrington Stanley, and this place will be bouncing last game of the season.

“I haven’t looked at the maths of it, but certainly we need to go and beat Fleetwood. We will give ourselves every chance to go and get that result next week.

“I have been here five games now, and I don’t know what went wrong before, but I look at the players and the quality we have got here, and I said in my programme notes today that this club has got key things in its favour.

“They have got a group of young players with a smattering of good senior players, and they have got fantastic fans. Hopefully, this club doesn’t have to take a step back to come forward again, but this club, ultimately, will keep moving forward.”

PICTURES: LUCY DIXON