Dons 'made it hard work' against Eastleigh

Regan Poole felt Dons should have been high and dry by half-time against Eastleigh.

Despite Dons having 14 shots on goal, a combination of poor finishing and keeper Joe McDonnell ensured the game went the distance goal-less, and to the very final penalty of the shoot-out, which Scott Fraser duly slotted home to send Dons into the second round draw.

Poole, who saw one of his shots tipped over by McDonnell, said the League One side made it harder than it needed to be against their opponents, who ply their trade two divisions below.

"The game should have been out of sight early doors," he said. "It wasn't, we made it hard work but the job is done, we're into the next round and we move on.

"It was attack versus defence at the end, only one team that looked like scoring. How we didn't score I do not know. If we'd have got one, we'd have got many. Credit to Eastleigh, they defended well but we have to start hitting the back of the net. Once we do, we won't stop.

"At the start of the season we were conceding silly goals, but we've got three clean sheets in four games now. It looks like that problem is in the past, now we've got to find the back of the net.

"There will be one game we score first and score a few, we'll go on a run and the problem will be behind us."

Poole stepped up to take the first penalty in the shoot-out for Dons, his second for the club after converting from 12-yards against AFC Wimbledon in the Carabao Cup last season too.

"I don't mind a penalty," he added. "I was first to step up, you pick a spot, stick with it and if it hits the net, it hits the net. If the keeper makes a great save, there's nothing you can do about it. I was happy to take one, and thank God it found the net."