AFC WIMBLEDON’s defence will be put through their paces this week as Neal Ardley looks to shore up his leaking backline.

The Dons have the worst defensive record in the division, having shipped 75 goals so far this term, and Ardley admits it must improve if they are to survive.

Wimbledon have had to come from behind to earn draws in their last two outings and things have to change in Saturday’s survival showdown with Fleetwood, which will decide their League Two fate.

Ardley says his troops cannot keep producing second-half salvage jobs to rescue points and the Dons boss wants a clean sheet against the Cod Army this weekend.

“My job is to lead, not to feel the pressure, and on the pitch and off the pitch we’ve improved massively,” said the Kingsmeadow chief.

“I genuinely believe if we put in the performance levels we are capable of then we can do it, but not if we play the way we did in the first-half [against Gillingham]. For us, we’ve got one game to go, and we’ve got to make sure the performance level matches the second-half [against Gillingham] for 90 minutes.

“I believe the players have got it in them. There’s character there and we’ve come back twice in the last two games.  The reason we’re down there is because we keep conceding goals and having to come back. We’ll work hard on the defending again next week.”

Wimbledon find themselves in the relegation zone as the final game with Fleetwood looms this weekend.

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