JOHN Coleman admitted Stanley’s defensive display in their 5-1 defeat at home to AFC Wimbledon was "alarming".

The Reds are desperate to get themselves in the League One play-off picture but this was a second heavy defeat in recent weeks after the 7-0 thrashing at Peterborough at the end of March.

Michael Nottingham headed in the opener for Stanley after five minutes but Ollie Palmer nodded home the equaliser in the 21st minute and then side-footed AFC Wimbledon ahead three minutes before the interval.

Ayoub Assal’s looping header in first-half stoppage time made it 3-1 at the break, and Wimbledon extended their lead after 57 minutes thanks to a Joe Pigott 20-yard free-kick before Assal wrapped up the scoring in the 64th minute.

Ben Heneghan was sent off in the 92nd minute for two bookable offences but the Dons had done the damage at the Wham Stadium.

It all leaves Stanley 12th and six points shy of the top six with seven games to play.

“This hurts worse than the 7-0,” said Coleman. “We started the game well, got ourselves in front and we looked lively.

“Then our keeper has mis-punched the ball and defender Cameron Burgess slipped, gifting the lad a free header for the equaliser.

“We still think we are in the ascendancy but bad defending gave them the second and then it was appalling defending for the third goal, losing the ball near the corner flag.

“That gave them the shot of adrenaline they needed and the fourth goal was the body blow.

“We looked brittle today which is alarming, we didn’t pick up the second ball and their midfielders were very good.

“It wasn’t our day and you have days like that. We have got to keep going and hope Tuesday’s game at Blackpool is our day.”