Paul Robinson says AFC Wimbledon can’t afford to let their FA Cup exit ruin their promising recent League Two run.
The former Millwall and Portsmouth centre-back was as gutted as anyone in the dressing room as Elliott Frear struck at the death to send Forest Green Rovers through to the next round at Kingsmeadow.
Wimbledon enjoyed a superb run in football’s oldest cup competition last year as they reached the third round where they met Liverpool as Steven Gerrard scored twice to block them on the road to Wembley.
There will be no dream Premier League tie though this season and Robinson thinks the Dons need to get the 2-1 loss to Rovers out of their system and focus on the three wins which preceded Saturday’s defeat.
Robinson told Dons Player: “We’ve been on a good run, three wins out of three, and we wanted to keep that run going.
“They came here and showed us respect, sitting deep with a game-plan, but we’re going to have to improve and learn how to break these teams down.
Re-live AFC Wimbledon's memorable cup tie with Liverpool in pictures:
“Last year was a massive occasion for the club and everyone, having had a taste of it, wanted to repeat that. We’ll have to get over this quickly and get ourselves back up for next weekend.
“We’re very disappointed for the fans but the biggest thing is the reaction now.
“It’s the wake-up call that maybe we need to go on another run in the league and hopefully keep ourselves in the top 10 and then ultimately to push on and get in that top seven.”
Robinson will be looking to get one over on his old club Pompey on Sunday as the Dons travel to the south coast for a televised clash at Fratton Park.
Meanwhile, goalkeeper James Shea should return to action a couple of weeks and manager Neal Ardley revealed George Francomb and Bayo Akinfenwa missed the Forest Green game due to injuries.
Were AFC Wimbledon unlucky to make such an early FA Cup exit? Tell us what you think in the comments section below.
