AFC Wimbledon endured a frustrating afternoon in the north east as they were beaten by bottom side Hartlepool.
The Dons were lacklustre for 90 minutes and barely registered a meaningful shot on goal.
Manager Neal Ardley went aggressive to try and win the game by bringing on Sammy Moore and Ade Azeez after 71 minutes.
But they were punished for their wastefulness in front of goal as Ryan Bird turned home Jack Compton's cross home to give the Pools the lead.
The defeat leaves Wimbledon eight points adrift of the play-offs with 13 games left to play.
After the game Ardley took the opportunity to blast his players, branding the performance 'unacceptable'.
He said: “We weren’t good enough. We always say that we win together and we lose together, but I hope the players are as angry as I am because I’m livid.
"I apologise to the fans who made the long journey up here today. It was the same old Wimbledon because we did not perform against a team scrapping for their lives. That’s unacceptable.”
