Neal Ardley felt a 2-1 defeat at Oxford United was harsh on his AFC Wimbledon players.

The visitors were the better side for much of the first half, but went in at the break trailing to Tom Newey’s headed goal from a corner.

David Connolly doubled the lead, before Charlie Wyke brought the Londoners back into the game.

They were unable late on to force an equaliser, which Ardley thought his side’s efforts had merited.

“I thought we played quite well on a really difficult pitch,” said the Dons boss.

“I cannot take anything from it though, because we have lost the game.

“I felt that we could get something and though I cannot say we were the better team I did not think there was a lot between the two sides.

“We were in the ascendancy during parts of the game.

“We won 75 per cent of the battles, but we’ve lost 2-1. I feel for the players because they have done a lot of what I asked of them apart from those two moments that cost us.

“I’m very disappointed because I don’t think we deserved to lose.”