AFC Wimbledon manager Johnnie Jackson has pledged to investigate his team's starkly contrasting defensive form at home and on the road. The Dons suffered a heavy defeat at Burton Albion, compounding a difficult start to their League One campaign.
Jackson spoke to BBC Radio London after the match. Their recent form reads LWDL, and they have scored just two goals while conceding seven. They currently sit behind early leaders Huddersfield Town.
The numbers reveal a clear split in AFC Wimbledon's performances based on location. In their two home matches at Plough Lane, they secured clean sheet victories against Reading and Wigan Athletic. However, their travels have been disastrous defensively. They were beaten at Huddersfield Town in the season opener before the loss at the Pirelli Stadium. In total, they have let in seven goals away from home without conceding any in front of their own supporters.
Johnnie Jackson acknowledged this glaring issue. "It's something that I'll have to look at because we've conceded seven away from home and haven't conceded any at home," the manager said. He added, "There's obviously a big disparity there and I'm sure there are some underlying reasons behind that, but it's difficult for me to say right this second."
With games played, AFC Wimbledon's season has been defined by this home-and-away split. The two home wins provided early optimism, but the nature of the away defeats has raised concerns. The loss to Huddersfield, who now top the division, was followed by the comprehensive reverse at Burton. This inconsistency has left them in the bottom half of the standings, looking to build momentum.
The team's overall record shows the need for improvement on their travels. Finding a way to translate their solid home displays into points on the road will be Jackson's immediate priority as he reviews the stats from these opening fixtures.
Jackson's task is to diagnose the causes of the away-day struggles before the next match. Jackson and his coaching staff will analyse video and data from the defeats at Huddersfield and Burton. They must address whether it's a tactical issue, a mental block, or a combination of factors that has led to such a porous defence outside of SW19.
Attention now turns to halting this trend and building a more resilient performance model. The squad will prepare for their next opportunity to put things right in front of their home fans.
AFC Wimbledon do not have to wait long for a game to address these concerns. Their next fixture is at Plough Lane against Doncaster Rovers. Doncaster currently sit in League One, making it a significant match for both teams near the lower reaches of the table. It presents a prime opportunity for the Dons to reinforce their strong home form and collect three more points.
