Neal Ardley has pledged there will be no banning of the ‘P’ word at AFC Wimbledon despite big challenges ahead.

Last night’s win over Carlisle, the Dons’ seventh in eight games, lifted them to the nose-bleed territory of fifth in League Two.

Ardley knows his sides promotion or playoff credentials, whichever ‘P’ word you prefer, will be tested by a run of four games against fellow members of the top seven, starting with the visit of Oxford on Saturday.

Nevertheless, he was happy to fan the flames of optimism..

“The players are excited and looking forward to things, so I’m not going to tell them they can’t go home and look at the league table,” he said.

“We have got to get another 21 or 22 points in the last 15 games and in our first 16 we got 25 and we did not even think we had hit the ground running.

“So we know it is achievable, but you look at the games and before you know it you can pick up one point in 12.

“You know that can happen as well, but at the moment we have got momentum and I’m trying to keep it going.”

Got the winner: Paul Robinson celebrates with teammates

One thing Ardley can be confident of is his side won’t lack for good old-fashioned bottle, a quality on display by the bucket-load against Keith Curle’s Carlisle.

Dons were second best throughout, even after visiting keeper Mark Gillespie was sent off five minutes into the second half for denying Tom Elliott a goal-scoring chance.

The hosts made the most of the moment at hand, Paul Robinson scoring from the resulting free-kick.

But they had to defend stoically for the remaining minutes where it appeared it was their opponents who had the extra man, something Ardley acknowledged while praising his own side’s rear-guard.

“I thought Carlisle were really good,” he said. “They won battles and beat us in areas at times we have been winning all season. But, our boys stayed in it, kept going and won the game.

“We weren’t at our best, but you know what, you have to show loads of different qualities to keep a winning run, you can’t win games the same or score goals the same every week. Today I thought we showed an awful lot of defensive resilience and character."

Sent off: Mark Gillespie of Carlisle United

The pattern of Carlisle dominance was set early as former Wimbledon loanee Charlie Wyke lashed wide with only Kelle Roos to beat before Callum Hope cannoned the upright following a mistake by Ryan Sweeney.

Hope also had penalty appeals waved away late in a half where Michael Raynes’ clearance over his own bar from George Francomb’s cross was virtually Don’s only threat.

The red card for Gillespie minutes after the break appeared to change everything as sub keeper Dan Hanford parried Taylor’s free-kick only for Robinson to throw himself at the rebound and head in from close range.

Yet the 10 men twice came close to a leveller as Raynes shot struck the woodwork and only a brilliant challenge by Barry fuller denied Jabo Ibehre in the act of shooting before the whistle brought as much relief as delight.

Read more: Bayo Akinfenwa's Darth Vader moment as he declares himself a father to the AFC Wimbeldon strikeforce

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