Millwall 1-4 AFC Wimbledon

It was a case of FA Cup déjà vu for the Dons as for a second year running they couldn’t quite get it right on the night.

Terry Brown’s team slipped to a 4-1 defeat to Football League opposition – a year after they lost by the same scoreline to Wycombe Wanderers.

And, just like at Kingsmeadow last November, Wimbledon collapsed at the back after getting back into the tie at 2-0 down.

As much as it was an improvement on the performance from last year’s first round in front of the Setanta cameras, Brown’s side will be ruing their errors at both ends of the pitch this morning.

The manager said: “As much as we gave it a good go and how I am proud of the players, you can’t get away from the fact that we gave them two goals.

“After getting ourselves back in the game when Lewis Taylor took his chance very well ten minutes from the end, it was disappointing to concede so soon after.

“The scoreline did not do us justice and it’s sad that we are gallant losers again.”

Wimbledon had the best chance of a nervy first half when Danny Kedwell failed to convert from surprise starter Elliott Godfrey’s teasing centre.

The top scorer slashed wide when he had time to take a touch. The League One Lions through Neil Harris’ long ranger almost punished the Dons before long.

The second half started in the worst possible fashion for the Blue Square Premier underdogs and their 3,339 followers.

Alan Inns headed up not out and Millwall seized upon the mistake. Harris finally got hold of the ball in a busy box and eventually lashed his shot beyond James Pullen.

Straight away Wimbledon had the chance to level the score but Jon Main – last year’s leading marksman – refused to pull the trigger when running at the Lions’ defence. The chance went begging when a leveller really should have arrived.

His keeper Pullen at the other end performed heroics to keep the Dons flame flickering. He saved brilliantly from Nadjim Abdou’s deflected drive but was helpless when substitute Jason Price connected from close range after Brett Johnson’s cleared off the line.

The plucky visitors grabbed their lifeline ten minutes from time after Kedwell’s brilliant back-heel teed-up Taylor who kept his composure to find David Forde’s bottom left-hand corner to send the away fans wild.

But the defence soon disintegrated as Millwall turned up the tempo. Sam Hatton backed off and the excellent Chris Hackett found the top corner.

It was a flattering 4-1 when Price grabbed his second of the game when he was given the freedom of the New Den a minute from time.