AFC Wimbledon boss Neal Ardley felt his side showed a lack of desire in Saturday’s 2-0 defeat to Southend United.

The setback was just the second the Dons have suffered at home in League One action since October.

And Ardley was extremely disappointed by his side’s display.

“The second-half was as poor as we have been all season,” said Ardley, whose team remained 13th in the table.

“In the first-half there was nothing between the two teams.

“Our final ball was lacking and that bit of quality let us down.

“It was poor defending for the first goal as their guy waltzed between three players and put it in the bottom corner which was unacceptable.

“But the second half was flat, abject and there was lack of desire.

“They beat us up at the back, up top, and in midfield they ran all over us.”

And Ardley also felt Dons should be hurt by their below par display.

“I want the players to be embarrassed by it,” he fumed.

“I feel like I had more passion and go in me on the side than the team did on the pitch. “That hurts and it is embarrassing.

“It has not happened too often in my time in charge but it has happened here and I want the boys to go home and feel it because I want a response from them.

“We still need a point or two to be safe and I want us to keep going hard.”