AFC Wimbledon boss Neal Ardley admitted to mixed emotions after last night's soul-destroying defeat to Plymouth Argyle in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy.

Having taken a 2-0 lead through goals from Adebayo Azeez and Lyle Taylor, the Dons were pegged back and eventually over-hauled by the current League Two high-fliers and dumped out of the competition 3-2.

Ardley fielded Will Nightingale, Tom Beere and Ben Harrison in a young side that would also see Dan Gallagher and David Fitazpatrick come off the bench.

Unfortunately for Beere and Gallagher, injury would curtail their game-time and Ardley is waiting on news of the severity.

However, despite the scoreline and the manner of the defeat, Ardley saw the positives through disappointed eyes.

"I am absolutely devastated, but I am proud of them," he said.

"We gave a few of the young lads an opportunity and part of me says the injuries and disruptions did not help.

"Tom [Beere] comes off, Andy [Barcham] has to come off, Dan [Gallagher] comes on and then has to come off.

"Then, all of a sudden, at a time when we wanted to put the energy at the top of the pitch, we didn’t have it." 

He added: "They upped the tempo, they had a spell of 15 minutes and they punished us in that spell with two goals.

"We were well on top, but a bit of naivety saw us concede just before half-time and raise their spirit and bring ours down.

"At times we ran them ragged, at times we got in great areas and if Ade [Azeez] sticks away his 1v1, we go 3-1 up and the game changes.

"There are so many positives, but negatives as well in their goals."

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