THE better team lost at Kingsmeadow, according to victorious AFC Wimbledon manager Neal Ardley.

Oxford United went down 2-1, as the Dons claimed their first home win of the season.

They only had three efforts on goal in the entire game, but crucially the two on target, from Scott Wagstaff and Joe Pigott, went in.

Cameron Brannagan pulled a goal back before half-time and while the U’s spent much of the second half camped in the Dons half, they could not get back on level terms.

Ardley said: “Some of the flow to our football wasn’t there, but credit to Oxford as I thought they were the better team on the day.

“We dug in, we took our chances, got the lead and we defended well for the rest of the game.

“(Goalkeeper) Joe McDonnell hasn’t had bundles to do.

“We had been in that dressing room a few times saying how well we had played, but we lost.

“I’m not going to apologise for not playing well and winning.”

Wimbledon had been struggling with similar issues to United, but despite creating little, their poor run was ended by showing a clinical edge where it mattered.

He said: “All too often in the past we’ve missed good chances.

“Here we didn’t have many, but we took them and we made sure we hung on in the end by doing all the stuff that wins you games of football.

“It was substance over style and the boys deserve credit.”