Johnnie Jackson hails ‘handful’ Jayden Stockley as AFC Wimbledon earn point
The former Charlton and Port Vale striker impressed in a goalless draw with Reading.
AFC Wimbledon manager Johnnie Jackson praised the contribution of Jayden Stockley as his side drew 0-0 with Reading.
The stalemate at Plough Lane was the first point earned at home since March for the south London outfit.
Stockley joined Wimbledon during the summer from Port Vale and Jackson believes the 32-year-old has already made a difference.
He said: “Jayden has put in an unbelievable shift, to press for the team and give us a platform.
“He’s a real handful – the Reading centre-halves know they’ve been in a game. When you take him off you lose a bit of that physicality.
“What he’s done for the team, it’s important to take him off and look after him. We need him to stay fit.
“Last week was tough for us, after losing at Huddersfield. All week we’ve been talking about a response. Today I thought our response was brilliant.
“To keep a clean sheet and stop a really good attacking side, to minimise them, I’m really pleased with the defensive side of it.
“I said to the lads, that was a proper Wimbledon performance. Some spirit, some bravery, to dig in.”
Reading had the better opportunities, with Jack Marriott forcing keeper Joe McDonnell to palm a 14th-minute effort away.
The Wimbledon shot-stopper denied Josh Stokes from close range five minutes after the restart, and the impressive Dan Sweeney blocked Kyreece Lisbie’s follow-up.
The home side slowly got into the game, having withstood some more Reading pressure, and Ryan Johnson saw his 68th-minute effort cleared off the line after a Zack Nelson free-kick.
The game petered out into a goalless draw that pleased Wimbledon more than Reading, who looked the more assured side of the two as they responded to a last-gasp defeat to Luton last week.
Manager Leam Richardson said: “We’ve got to score when we’re on top, both in the first half and in the first 15 minutes of the second.
“Overall I think we deserved to win, from last week it’s a really good response psychologically with how that panned out.
“I thought the lads’ mentality and togetherness was there for all to see.
“The last 10 minutes were a test for us, we can be a little bit more clinical for sure. Our decision-making at the top end of the pitch is normally very good.
“I was pleased at how we defended our box, because they ask you a lot of questions with their direct play – the game was a bit bitty at times.”