View from Kingsmeadow, Volume 47: Throwing the Dagger on the Daggers

Terry Brown's AFC Wimbledon were on a two-match losing streak as they traveled to take on Dagenham and Redbridge in Football Leauge Two action.

Brown addressed reporters on Monday:

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After reflecting on Saturday's game via Sky on Sunday, it doesn't need me to tell you that individual errors cost us the game. I said to the players at halftime that if I could have written a nightmare scenario for the first league game that AFC Wimbledon have played, it would be the first goal, a straight throw from the 'keeper given away resulting in a goal and the centre half getting caught on the halfway line as the cause of the second goal.

It would be the easiest thing in the word to say that if we hadn't been trying to play football in our own half that wouldn't have happened. Of course that is correct. However, this is the way that I ask our players to play.

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Brown admitted that playing in a new league means that the club needed to step up its game.

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There is no doubt that as you go to a higher level, the mistakes you make are punished more severely. However, we do not play no-risk football. I ask our players to make angles and to believe in both their own ability and the ability of their teammates.

Trust me, if I allowed [goalkeeper] Seb [Brown] to kick every ball and [team captain] Jamie [Stuart] and Brett [Johnson] to launch every ball, they would be more than happy as it would make life a lot easier for our defence. To play the brand of football that I would like to see us play means working much harder both with and without the ball.

I am aware that attractive passing football also has to be winning football and we may well have to eliminate some of the riskier football we play, but the emphasis will always be on passing the ball.

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A new league means tougher opponents, and early on, the Dons were feeling the pressure in their 3-2 defeat to Bristol Rovers.

Brown said on Thursday:

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I was very impressed by not only Dagenham's work rate and organisation... and when they got the opportunity, they possess very dangerous players whose passing at times cut open the Bournemouth defence. Having won their first fixture away to Macclesfield, they will undoubtedly pose a major problem to us collecting our first points of the season.

No doubt Gareth Gwillim will be looking forward to returning to Victoria Road, but as anyone will tell you, overcoming a John Still side at any time of the season, especially when they are at home, is incredibly difficult. As far as our own team is concerned, we will be looking to eradicate some of the individual errors that have occurred over the last two games.

If we can do that, I am sure we will start to register league points on a regular basis. I am not going to make many changes, if any, from the team that nearly earned a draw against Bristol Rovers last Saturday.

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True to Brown's prophesy, the Dons did fix their shortcomings and shut out Dagenham & Redbridge 2-0.

Luke Moore scored on a penalty in the 38th minute, and Rashid Yussuff delivered a wonder strike in the 57th minute of play.

Waves of successful defending against the set pieces created by the Daggers preserved the shutout.

Up next for AFC Wimbledon are a couple of contests. On Tuesday, August 16, the Dons will travel to Home Park in Plymouth to take on the Pilgrims of Plymouth Argyle. Kickoff is scheduled for 11:45 a.m. PT/2:45 p.m. ET.

Then, on Saturday, Aug. 20, the Wombles return home to host Hereford United. Kickoff at Kingsmeadow is scheduled for 7:00 a.m. PT/10:00 a.m. ET.