'Winning promotion means everything' - Jackson
Johnnie Jackson takes his AFC Wimbledon side to Grimsby Town on the final day of the League Two season
- Published
Winning promotion to League One would mean "everything" to AFC Wimbledon boss Johnnie Jackson as his side prepare to visit Grimsby Town on the final day of the League One season.
A run of four games without a win has taken the Wombles out of automatic promotion contention and leaving them needing a point to ensure they don't drop out of the play-off spots right at the end.
"It'd mean everything to me," Jackson told BBC London TV. "It's been a long road to get here.
"This is what we work for, to be in this position because it's been challenging. I want it for the club, the players, personally and for the supporters."
The Mariners trail the sixth-placed Dons by two points and two places and will clinch a place in the top seven themselves with victory at Blundell Park on Saturday.
Grimsby ran out 1-0 winners thanks to Danny Rose's headed goal in the reverse fixture in November.
Despite missing out on automatic promotion, Jackson credited his players for remaining in contention for much of the season.
"They've done great to be in and around it all season despite some setbacks," he said.
"I said that the only time we came out of it was when the pitch exploded [it was flooded in September] and we fell three or four games behind, then they clawed their way back in from that time.
"There's been some real challenges, before Christmas we basically lost three or four midfielders in one week.
"To keep fighting the way they have and have their destiny in their own hands and go into the final day of the season fighting for a play-off spot, I think they've done brilliant."
'We haven't scored enough goals'
Top scorer Matty Stevens has 17 League Two goals for Wimbledon this season
Wimbledon's steely defence have conceded 10 fewer goals than any other side in League Two this season (35).
But they are also the lowest scorers in the top seven with 55 goals and Jackson believes this is an area where they have let themselves down at times.
Matty Stevens has 17 league goals in a stellar season since joining the club from Forest Green Rovers last summer.
Yet only one has come in his past 15 appearances, with none in seven.
"Matty's fine, you couldn't find a steadier lad - the way that he is, his temperament is first class, he wants to score goals of course, he's a goalscorer," Jackson said.
"It's not just on him, other people have to step up and that's probably what we haven't done this is score enough goals, because we've got the best defence by a good way in the entire league.
"Just relying on him for goals isn't the way to do it, we need others to step up when he doesn't do it.
"He's got 17 league goals, hopefully he'll get a couple more and that's going to help us."
Jackson given touchline ban for final game
Wimbledon, however, will have to cope on Saturday without their head coach in the dugout.
Jackson was charged with misconduct by the Football Association for acting in an "improper manner" during the Dons' 2-0 loss at home to Port Vale last weekend - a result that sent the Valiants up.
He was handed a one-match touchline ban and a £1,000 fine by an independent regulatory commission on Friday.
Director of football Craig Cope was given a £650 fine and warning for "acting in an improper towards a match official around the tunnel area after the final whistle".
The League Two play-off race
AFC Wimbledon require just one point from their final League Two match to secure a play-off place
Permutations for Dons in race for play-offs
If AFC Wimbledon beat Grimsby and Notts County draw with Doncaster, Wimbledon will finish fifth due to a superior goal difference over the Magpies.
If Wimbledon win and Notts lose, Wimbledon will finish fifth outright.
If Wimbledon win and Notts win, Wimbledon will finish sixth.
If Wimbledon draw, they will finish sixth unless Salford City beat Carlisle United by more than 10 goals.
If Wimbledon lose to Grimsby and Salford draw, Wimbledon will finish seventh - unless Chesterfield win, in which case the Dons will finish eighth.
If Wimbledon lose and Salford win, Wimbledon will finish eighth and miss out on the play-offs. If Chesterfield also win, the Dons will finish ninth.
Teams who finish in sixth and seventh place will play the first leg of their play-off semi-final at home.