I WAS devastated after the game at AFC Wimbledon because it was a match we should have won and didn’t.

With the chances we had we should have been out of sight and the statistics in terms of shots, crosses and corners back that up too.

The fact we didn’t was because we were naive.

At 2-1 up we kept on playing at a high tempo looking for a third or fourth goal when we really needed to make sure things were tight at the back.

Unfortunately that wasn’t the case and when a centre-back pops up to a score like that from 25 yards you get the feeling it isn’t going to be your night.

That’s how it proved and it was so frustrating because it was a real chance for us to get our season going again ahead of the two home games we have up coming up.

The first of those is against Oxford and the pressure is really on us to win it now.

LITTLE DECISIONS COSTING US DEAR

LITTLE decisions the players are making at the moment are also costing us dearly.

When we were 1-0 up at AFC Wimbledon, Shaq Coulthirst got in to the penalty area and was more or less wrestled to the floor by Mark Phillips.

Shaq felt him off and was able to get his shot away which unfortunately the goalkeeper saved.

However, a more experienced player – like Barry Corr or Lee Barnard – would have gone down in that situation and got the penalty.

I’m not advocating getting players sent off but Mark was the last man and he would have to have walked for that.

We then have a scenario when we would have an extra man earlier on in the game than we did and we would also have a great chance to make it 2-0 from the penalty spot.

However, it was the worst possible outcome for us really as their keeper saved Shaq’s effort and Wimbledon went on to equalise just a couple of minutes later.

GREAT FOR JACK PAYNE

IT was a great night for Jack Payne at AFC Wimbledon as he scored both of our goals and it goes without saying he’s right at the forefront of my mind for the Oxford game on Saturday.

Whatever system you play, if Jack’s on the pitch he needs to be at the hub of it.

He gets himself opportunities, which we saw against Walsall, and he put a couple of them away at Wimbledon.

I actually singled him out in the dressing room after the game as well because he has that tenacity and the I will not be beaten mentality which we need more of.

He works hard on his game and always goes back out after training to do extra work.

He practises set pieces in a way like David Beckham used to and I would like to see him more involved with our free-kicks now.

I heard Harry Redknapp talk the other day about how hard Frank Lampard would work when he was younger and how they sometimes had to drag him off the training ground.

Jack’s the same but I think those types of players are a dying breed now.

GARY DEEGAN ALSO IMPRESSED

WE gave Gary Deegan his debut at Wimbledon and I was pleased with how he played.

He brings us something different to the midfield and has a desire to destroy which I think you need in there.

VANISHING SPRAY VANISHED?

We had the vanishing spray used for the first time in one of our games when we played Wimbledon in the JPT but I think it stopped working!

The referee used it early on in the game but it wasn’t seen again after that.

I think it should be used in all games though, it’s an absolute no brainer.

DEFENSIVE OPTIONS

ADAM Thompson should be back in training today after recovering from a shin injury and Cian Bolger is now back from suspension too.

I’ve had a word with Cian about what happened but what was said will remain private.

We need to educate our own players and we need to stick together when we cross that white line.

We certainly don’t want a repeat of what happened with him at Plymouth.

JOHN STONES COULD BE ENGLAND'S NEW RIGHT-BACK FOR QUITE SOME TIME

JOHN Stones made his England debut last night and he’s someone I rate highly.

I first saw him play at Barnsley a few years ago now and he was excellent going forward.

If he can learn the game defensively then he could well be our right-back for the next 10 years.

We’ve seen that before in that position and we want to see it again.

I don’t like it when players aren’t concerned with international football because they fear fatigue or their domestic careers.

For me playing for England should be the proudest moment of your life.