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AFC Wimbledon boss Johnnie Jackson said Mansfield Town showed more desire than his team after they were beaten 3-0 at home on Tuesday.
Michael Smith scored twice for the Stags in the first half-hour as Jackson's side suffered a third straight league defeat.
"They had more energy than us, they looked like they wanted it more in that first half," Jackson told BBC Radio London.
"In that period, they showed a lot more desire to be front-footed and play forward and run forward.
"When you see the reaction in the second half, and we're doing all the things that they did to us, it's hard to take that we didn't start the game like that.
"It shouldn't take a rocket at half-time to [make the players] come out and react.
"We did but it was too little, too late. The start of the game was nowhere near good enough."
The Dons are now 16th in League One before on Saturday playing host to Wycombe Wanderers, who sit one place and two points above them.
Jackson is keen to see his side revert to the style of football that has become their trademark under him.
"Perhaps we've gone away from the Wimbledon that's got us success, which is front-foot football, forward balls, forward runs, play in their half, maybe be a bit more direct," he added.