Dean Parrett was delighted to grab all three points for AFC Wimbledon on Tuesday but admits Rochdale still had the quality to force a comeback with ten men.

After Keith Keane had been shown a second yellow card on the stroke of half-time, it didn't take the Dons long to open the scoring in the second half.

In fact, they raced into a 3-0 lead inside five minutes, before boss Neal Ardley made a triple substitution.

"When they went down to then men, we knew if we got a goal we'd open them up a bit," Parrett told Get West London.

"The gaffer told us Rochdale were pushing for the play-offs so they've got to come at us, even with ten men they've got to be brave.

"I think we saw that in the last 20 minutes where we sat back a little bit and they had a bit of joy.

"But the three goals were a nice cushion and they came quickly for us."

Dean Parrett scored Wimbledon's third against Rochdale

Indeed, the visitors did get one goal back shortly after Wimbledon's third, a speculative effort which somehow crept past James Shea.

The goalkeeper would have been disappointed not to keep it out, but he redeemed himself after with a solid display.

But Dale nearly brought it back to 3-2 when Jamie Allen curled against the post after a mazy run through the middle.

It could have been a different story, but the hosts held on comfortably after that for the win.

"Rochdale are a good side and they've got some good players, but we had to stick to our jobs and work as hard as we could," said Parrett.

"Even at 3-0, you could see they had the ability to break us down with ten men.

"Our three goals maybe made us relax a little bit, but they played with ten men clever. Every time we went to press them they had a spare man, kind of staying in behind our midfielders.

"They made it difficult for us but we stuck at it in the end.

"The goal we conceded was a bit of downer but at 3-0 you just want to close up shop and make sure no goals go in."