Simon Bassey can understand why some AFC Wimbledon supporters booed the team off at Kingsmeadow after Saturday's defeat to Stevenage.
The Dons were downed 2-1 by Teddy Sheringham's side as a halfway-line strike from Jerome Okimo and a stunner from Jamille Matt turned the tables after George Francomb's opener.
It was a dismal second 45 minutes from Wimbledon who had gone into the match buoyed by the news that they will finally be returning to their spiritual home of Merton.
Planning permission for a new stadium just yards from their old ground at Plough Lane was granted 48 hours earlier and chief executive Erik Samuelson addressed the crowd before kick-off.
However, the homecoming party was spoiled by Boro and a lack of desire on Wimbledon's part, leading to the dissenting voices at the final whistle.
First-team coach Bassey, a lifelong Dons fan and former player, admitted he agreed with their failure to accept such a performance.
He said: “Yes, certainly [I can understand the frustration]. In our last two home games with Dagenham and Stevenage we've been beaten both times. Not good enough.
“You'll lose games and you'll win games. As a Wimbledon fan, as a Wimbledon player I've both won and lost games. It's the manner in which you lose and that wasn't good enough.
“I'd hardly say this is a hostile atmosphere to play in. There's the odd moan and groan but that's at every football groan.
“If that's going to affect you then I suggest you pack up and stop playing football. You've got to be big and put your shoulders back. This is a club that was meant to die and never did. Today we rolled over .
“In terms of the news we had this week, this defeat is a very small thing. Thursday was bigger than any defeat or any victory. That was a victory for everything and for everyone's hard work for the last 24 years.
“We're very disappointed with the result but we'll wake up tomorrow and we're still going back to Merton, back to where we want to be, and that's the bigger picture for this club. This sort of performance shouldn't be associated with this club.”
Manager Neal Ardley decided not to undertake his post-match media duties in the wake of the disappointing 2-1 defeat.
