Manager Stuart Maynard felt it was men against boys as Notts County fell to a 2-0 defeat against promotion rivals AFC Wimbledon at the Cherry Red Records Stadium.
First-half goals from Joe Lewis and Alistair Smith were enough to see the Dons leapfrog Maynard’s side into fourth place in the League Two table despite going into the fixture on a four-game winless run.
Maynard said: “No dispute they were the better side, especially in the first half, it felt like it was men against boys.
“I can also say tactically we probably could have started with a back four, we changed the shape at half-time and we started to get a bit of control on the ball.
“In the first half, we just could not get any momentum. They were more physical and they ran all over us.
“There has not been many occasions so far this season where that has happened to us. Probably Salford is the other one where it felt like that.
“That is when we needed to dig deep [in the first half] and not concede in those moments.
“It was frustrating to concede the goal at the set-piece, he has slipped at the back post.
“There is nothing that you can do about that, he has slipped over and his man heads it in.
“But it was not good enough in the first half at all, it was men against boys, but they have come out in the second half and the lads have had a go.”
The Dons were in complete control from start to finish, limiting the visitors to scraps and missing several chances to extend their lead.
Boss Johnnie Jackson believes his side deserved the three points after dominating in and out of possession.
“I was happy with both sides of the game, out of possession we were strong in our shape and in possession we caused them a lot of problems and created a lot of chances,” he said.
“It has come together nicely today.
“I’m very pleased with that [the goals coming from unlikely sources]. We have been crying out for a centre-half to score from a set-piece.
“We are delighted for Joe that he has done that and then Alistair has scored another great goal and a different type of goal that we want from our midfielders.
“It can’t always be the forwards, I have said this time and time again we need to spread them around, but having not scored in the last couple of games I would have taken a goal from anywhere.”
