AFC Wimbledon lost 3-0 to Mansfield Town in League One on Tuesday night, a result that extends their winless run to five matches. Michael Smith scored twice in the first half for the visitors, who took full advantage of a disjointed Dons performance.
The defeat leaves AFC Wimbledon 15th in the table with 12 points from 10 games, now eight points adrift of the top spot. Their recent form reads two draws and three consecutive losses, with the team having conceded 15 goals this season while scoring only seven. This leaves them with a goal difference of minus eight after ten games, comprising three wins, three draws and four losses. Their last five results, in order, are a 0-3 defeat to Mansfield Town on Tuesday 20 October, a 5-0 loss at Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday 17 October, a 2-1 defeat at Plymouth on Saturday 10 October, a 0-0 draw with Barnet on Tuesday 6 October, and a 1-1 draw at Cambridge United on Saturday 26 September.
How the game unfolded
Smith opened the scoring after 22 minutes, finishing from a Stephen McLaughlin assist. He doubled the lead just five minutes later, again set up by McLaughlin, to put Mansfield in firm control before the half-hour mark. AFC Wimbledon struggled to create clear chances, managing only two shots on target from 13 attempts throughout the match.
Jonathan Russell added a third for Mansfield in the 73rd minute, assisted by Smith, to seal a comprehensive away victory. The Dons made a host of second-half substitutions, introducing Harry Cornick, James Tilley, Ollie Harrison and Steven Sessegnon in an attempt to change the game's momentum, but the damage was already done.
Defenders Andy Yiadom and Ryan Johnson were both booked for AFC Wimbledon. The team's top scorer this season, J. Stockley, who has four goals in 10 appearances, was kept quiet by the Mansfield defence.
This result follows a 5-0 loss at Sheffield Wednesday last Friday, piling pressure on the squad ahead of a key home fixture. Supporters can view the full standings to see how the table looks.
AFC Wimbledon now turn their focus to hosting Wycombe Wanderers this Saturday at The Cherry Red Records Stadium. Wycombe currently sit 11th, providing another tough test as the Dons look to arrest their slide and find a first win in over a month. The fixture takes place on Saturday 24 October.
