A lot can change in a week, and AFC Wimbledon boss Neal Ardley admitted he was delighted in his side’s transformation.

Goals from Dom Poleon and Tyrone Barnett, his first of the season, overturned a 1-0 deficit at Charlton Athletic on Saturday to claim a 2-1 win, and a first on the road this season.

It is the first time the Addicks have been beaten at home, and the three points lifted the Dons to 17th in the League One table.

The Dons last outing, a 3-2 defeat at home to Sheffield United, left Arfley fuming at his players, but it was a different matter at 5pm on Saturday.

He said: “After last week’s performance, we had to come here and put in a performance – the result was going to be a by-product of that.

“Last week we did not play as a team, we played as individuals and were beaten as a result – this week we had to stick together, and after conceding so early, the biggest gripe I had at half-time was not the togetherness of the team or the way they were all working for each other, it was the one v one defending – it was all too easy at times.”

A significant change from the Blades’ defeat saw James Shea take the goalkeeper’s jersey off Ryan Clarke, and his performance between the sticks will make it difficult for Ardley to swap again any time soon.

“I don’t think there were any points last season where the goalkeeper had to keep us in a game, but against Charlton that was the case,” he said.

“If we go 2-0 down, then we are really chasing shadows as they get their tails up – at 1-0, he made two or three really top drawer saves that kept it that way and allowed us to get back into the game and that is what the team is about.

“He has been called upon and he has done his job, and the subs have done their job when they’ve come on, Dom has perform that little bit of magic, and when it all comes together, that’s what you’re rooting for.”

He added: “Since I gave out a few home truths on Tuesday, training this week has been really tough and we have tried to raise it up a level.

“Everyone has trained exceptionally well, and I actually did not name the team until Saturday, which I would not normally do – it’s normally on a Friday.

“I demanded a job from the team, and Dom delivered that – his goal was brilliant, we loved that, but I am just as happy with the work he did for the team.”

The only blight on the day was a nasty facial injury to George Francomb, who lost two teeth after a clash of heads, but Ardley was already considering a change to the team when the midfielder had to be replaced.

“We’re not sure how George was injured, but Darius [Charles] reckons he might have caught him going for a header, but I would much rather have two people trying to head the ball than none of them.

“We were already thinking about putting some height into the team when George was injured.

“The late goal was a great ball from Barry [Fuller], and I told Tyrone when he went on, I don’t want you at the back post when crosses come in, I want you in the centre of goal and he has done that.”

He added: “The fans were amazing – Russell Slade [Charlton manager] said to me as we walked down the touchline that crikey, there will be no one left in Wimbledon.

“Even at 1-0 down they stuck with us and when we were having to defend resiliently they were cheering and chanting, as they always do, then as the game went on and they opened up a bit more, they must have enjoyed that last 20 minutes.”

The Dons host Shrewsbury Town this weekend.