AFC Wimbledon boss Neal Ardley took full responsibility for his team’s poor start, but ultimate 2-1 victory, against Hartlepool United on Tuesday night.

Ardley made four changes to the weekend League Two win over Exeter City, and had to make two substitutions up-front at half time.

The Dons were one down at the break, but the introduction of debutant Danny Hylton and Charlie Wyke for Charlie Sherringham and Jack Midson changed the mood at the Cherry Reds Record stadium.

Hylton went on to the score the winner after 76 minutes, two minutes after Will Antwi had leveled the sides.

Ardley said: “Tactically I got it wrong and the lads managed to pull it out the bag.

“I felt for Charlie, Jack and Kevin [Saint-Luce] because ultimately Hartlepool outnumbered us up top.

“That was tactically wrong from me. Then we went old-fashioned 4-4-2 in the second half.

Wimbledon Times:

Opener: Luke James puts Hartlepool ahead on Tuesday night

“We had to then chase the game and credit to the boys, again they’ve come from behind and shown real character.”

Wimbledon, who secured back-to-back home wins for this first time since August with the wins over Exeter and Hartlepool, moved up to ninth and are eight points below the play-off places.

However, Ardley refused to get carried away with the rise up the table.

He added: “In this league wins on the trot are vital, you can climb the table quickly and we’ve gone from 15th to ninth in a short space of time.

“It’s a very tight league and it honestly is just about getting the points.

“At the start of the season everyone was saying ‘Let’s just have a boring mid-table season’ - the lowest we’ve been so far is 15th and I’d like that to be the lowest we go all season.”

Wimbledon Times:

All change: Will Antwi is mobbed after his headed equaliser