Anderson: No excuses – we were awful

The Dons were also less than convincing in their 4-2 Surrey Senior Cup victory over Combined Counties side Banstead Athletic on Tuesday night.

Anderson's men were a goal down and a man down at half time after Simon Sweeney was sent off for a late challenge.

Substitute Steven Goddard spared their blushes with a second half hat-trick, while Antony Howard scored to make it 3-2 with extra-time looming at Kingsmeadow.

However, the win did little to paper over the cracks in Anderson's depleted squad.

"We have got some major injury worries. There are some big players out, but we've got to deal with it," said Anderson after Saturday's defeat in Essex.

"I'm not crying about the injuries we have got but we just want to get our best players out on the pitch and that's how I want to be judged.

"That said, on Saturday we were poor. We were second to everything and they beat us in every department from work rate to ability on the ball.

"It was a real low point for me during my career at AFC Wimbledon. I've got no excuses - we were awful."

To make matters worse, left-back Michael Haswell was forced off with damaged knee ligaments and will be out for at least a month. Steve Butler was also withdrawn suffering from double vision, but came through Tuesday's cup tie unscathed.

Anderson, whose attempts to bring in a midfielder and centre forward to soften his crippling injury list failed to materialise last week, says he wants to put the weekend's disappointing display behind him and focus on Saturday's mouthwatering FA Trophy clash at Conference outfit Aldershot Town on Saturday.

"One thing about my team is that they always show a reaction to a bad result," said Anderson. "Just because they are bad one week doesn't make them bad players - we just have to get on with it.

"Saturday will be a great occasion for us and we go into it as underdogs but I know we will be up for it."