Neal Ardley has warned his players that they are not on their holidays yet, insisting AFC Wimbledon have “work to do” before the end of the season.

The Dons currently sit 13 in League One, nine points outside the relegation zone, and after a lacklustre 2-0 defeat to Southend United on Saturday, Ardley wasn’t happy.

And the manager is adamant that any players who don't show more enthusiasm won't be in is matchday squads.

Tom Elliott is challenged during Saturday's defeat to Southend United

“My teams tend to have a right go whether they win or lose, but [against Southend United] we didn’t,” Ardley lamented.

“The second half was as flat as I’ve seen us and I hope the [the players] don’t think we are safe on our holidays because we have some work to do.

“You make your substitutions with Tuesday night in mind because you aren’t getting any joy out of [Southend] and so you start thinking about now getting players injured or fatigued for the following game but it doesn’t matter what you do if the 11 players out on the pitch look like they don’t want to compete or run and we got beaten up.

“The second half looked like men against boys and we can’t have any more of those performances this season.

“I’ve just said to the boys, anyone who doesn’t turn up to training like kids that are trying to get into the first day of the season’s team won’t play. I’m not having the last four weeks in holiday mode. Yes we want to try things and bring some of the young players through eventually and try a few different tactics. Yes we want to do all that. But we have to have a go.”