MICHAEL Appleton refused to be too downbeat and instead praised the way Oxford United stuck to the game plan as they drew a blank against AFC Wimbledon.

The home side looked bright early on, but quickly found life difficult against a well-organised Dons side.

A point was a better result for Neal Ardley’s men, who avoided defeat against the U’s for the first time after eight straight losses.

Despite only mustering two shots on target from all their possession, Appleton was pleased his side did not abandon their patient approach.

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The head coach said: “At the end of the day, you can only ask for the players to keep a clean sheet and if the opposition are good enough to defend well and make sure we don’t score, then good luck to them.

“We’re satisfied with the performance in the way we defended and up until the final third.

“It just didn’t quite happen for us there.

“Fans can be frustrated and I’m sure certain sections will be, but I think the players showed a bit of belief in terms of what we do and how we do it.

“We weren’t prepared to be a pub team and just throw the ball up there and have a fight for it.”

United lacked a spark to unlock Wimbledon’s defence, with Brian Howard in particular enduring a frustrating afternoon on the fringes of the game.

Appleton felt the responsibility lay across the entire attacking unit, rather than with an individual.

He said: “I expect more from all of them, certainly in the final third.

“But I can’t single Brian out when we had people like James (Roberts) Alfie (Potter), Callum (O’Dowda) when he came on, Tyrone (Barnett) and Hylts (Danny Hylton).

“They all can do better and will do better I’m sure in the coming weeks.”

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