Neal Ardley all but wagged a finger at his AFC Wimbledon troops after a nothing end to 2016.

Defeat at Southend and Bristol Rovers left the manager’s stocking very empty, and he puts it down to players going solo.

“It does not get any easier,” he told the club’s official website.

“Next we have Millwall, who are in a run of good form, and then we have Oxford and Rochdale to come to our place.

Return: Lyle Taylor

“You can’t start playing like individuals when the going gets tough. That’s the message I’ve given the players.

“When the going gets tough we have to come together.

“We have to get ready for another hard game against a team who are physical and play at a good intensity. We have to stand up to that.

“We have to get back the old Wimbledon way and the Wimbledon spirit, something we’ve lacked in the last few weeks.

“We are trying our hardest to get that spark back into the group, but when you lose a couple of games the confidence dips a little.”

One expected change from the 2-0 reverse at Bristol is the restoration of Lyle Taylor to the starting XI after serving a one-match suspension incurred at Southend on Boxing Day.

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