Robbie Neilson’s derby day woes continue as former Hearts head coach suffers defeat in ferocious AFC Wimbledon – MK Dons clash

BY ALAN TEMPLE – @CCP_Sport

ROBBIE NEILSON admits his MK Dons players were “bullied” as the former Hearts head coach endured defeat in one of England’s most controversial derbies.

The Milton Keynes men travelled face AFC Wimbledon on Tuesday evening and emerged from a ferocious fixture on the wrong end of a 2-0 defeat due to strikes from Jake Reeves and ex-Falkirk man Lyle Taylor doing the damage.

It was the first meeting between the sides in London since Pete Winkelman’s Inter MK Group bought over Wimbledon in 2003 following their descent into administration, relocating the club to Milton Keynes and rebranding them.

Such is the rancour between the sides, Wimbledon refused to even acknowledge MK Dons in their match-day programme – and they won the battle on the pitch.

Neilson told the Milton Keynes Citizen: ”We got bullied and it wasn’t good enough. We have to get better, get wins and get to safety this season, and then we can build.

“I’m really disappointed. I felt we passed the ball really well in the first half, but we didn’t stand up to the game in the second half.

“It’s not good enough that we lost the game. AFC Wimbledon came out and pressed us really high. We made it easy for their defenders in the second half and it let them become aggressive and bully our centre forwards.

“You have to be able to put defenders under pressure at this level – and we didn’t do that.”

The defeat continues Neilson’s woes in local rivalries, with the former Jambo boasting just one win from his last seven derby outings with Hearts and MK Dons – a 1-0 win over Wimbledon in December.