Robinson: Players need to 'think on their feet' more after they allow Hull to boss game too easily

AFC Wimbledon are back in the drop zone after being comfortably brushed aside by Hull City at Plough Lane.

The 3-0 scoreline flattered the Dons, if anything, as they seldom threatened, while the promotion-chasing Tigers might have made it an even more chastening afternoon, given the numerous chances they created. Two of the goals were penalties but they should have had more in open play.

Recent wins against Wigan and Gillingham had lifted spirits and given new boss Mark Robinson encouragement. But Glyn Hodges' successor acknowledged the Dons failed to adapt to the challenge Hull posed and ought to have come up with solutions.

"We made it far too difficult for ourselves, " he said. "You could see they [Hull] are a good side, we knew that, but our players went away from what brought them success in the previous games.

"In the Wigan game, we offered lots of problems going forward, in terms of our running in behind and our movement and in the Gillingham game we had a good structure behind the ball.

"But they offered us different problems today, making sure there weren't pockets for us to move into and when that happens, you've got to problem-solve, because I can't solve everything on the touchline for them.

"They've got to recognise that Hull were sitting in their banks of four ready to break out of their shape and we've got to do something different to cause them problems and we didn't. They didn't come up with enough solutions on the pitch."

Robinson added: "You can't concede the sort of goals that we conceded. The first penalty was very, very soft but you give away penalties when you get stretched or opened up. If you don't get opened up, the ref doesn't have a decision to make.

"They have good players but I believe we've got good players and we were naive in some of the stuff we were doing. We didn't carry enough threat and the last thing I want to be is a side that passes for passing's sake and we've got to problem-solve better.

"They are hurting, which is a good thing and they're really disappointed, but we go again on Tuesday [at Shrewsbury].I'm seeing plenty of things in training to know we can change things for the good. We need to make our place a fortress and I'm positive that in time, we will."