Robbo sure keeper will learn from late error which proved so costly for the Dons

Boss Mark Robinson is backing Niko Tzanev to bounce back quickly from the late blunder which cost AFC Wimbledon a precious point in their relegation fight.

The Dons were far from incisive, failing to get a shot on target in the Easter Monday clash with Fleetwood Town, but they looked set for a draw until their keeper - very good up to that point - dithered on a backpass and ended up crashing a clearance into an advancing Barrie McKay, with the ball cannoning past him and into the net for the game's only goal.

It came two minutes from time and left the Dons with virtually no time to repair the damage.

That moment was in stark contrast to the last-gasp penalty save in the previous home match which won the day against Northampton.

"It's all about decision-making and Tanz knows that, I don't have to tell him that," Robinson said.

"We are trying to play more [football], but there are times to play and times to put your foot through it and hit it 70 yards up the pitch, and he'll know that.

"If he doesn't know, then he's not going to go on and be the keeper I believe he will be, it's as simple as that.

"He's already apologised but there were two or three other situations probably where they did attack us from our own undoing. Unfortunately for Tanz, his mistake was costly.

"I've said to the lads if we're going to play like we want to play, you can't concede those sort of goals - not in the position we're in."

Robinson added: "He's been outstanding since he's come in. He's been faultless. That's the first mistake Tanz has made since he's been in goal. He's been fantastic, so there's no blame there.

"The biggest thing is to make sure he goes again because he's done brilliantly for us. He's going to have to get over it quickly and he will. We're all in this together and he won't stew on it. He'll be absolutely fine."

It was a second 1-0 defeat for the Dons over Easter following the Good Friday loss at Plymouth but they remain just two points from safety with hope very much alive.

"We've got to remain positive," Robinson said. "The points are vital and you come away believing you should have got at least a point in both games. If you come away with two points over the two games, it puts us in a good position.

"We've just got to go again. It's still in our hands and we have to make it happen. The lads have to step up again and we need to find solutions to get these goals.

"Opposing managers are saying how well we're playing but we've got to put more points on the board."

The Dons boss concluded: "There's massive belief we can do it. We were going the long-ball style and conceding fours and fives before we changed our style and that has to continue, even if I'm fully aware that if the points don't come, people will question it, but we tried the other way for many years and it hasn't reaped any rewards, so we need to make it work.

"Also, the average age of our starting line up was 22 today and probably went down to 21 by the end of the game. People won't look at that as positives when you lose a game, but they are positives."