Johnnie Jackson: League Two playoff final tactics

When Johnnie Jackson took over as manager of AFC Wimbledon in 2022, the club had just been relegated off the back of a 27-game winless streak. If it wasn’t clear he faced a major task to turn around their fortunes, his tricky first season in charge was confirmation. But the shoots of optimism under his leadership grew into tangible progress on the pitch, particularly in his second season. By the start of the 2024/25 League Two campaign, the Dons were ready to mount a serious promotion challenge under one of the EFL’s most promising young coaches.

In and around the playoff places for much of that season, Jackson’s Wimbledon went into their final league game needing a result to ensure their promotion challenge would continue. In this Coaches’ Voice exclusive Masterclass, Jackson explains how he and his staff worked to get the best out of their players when it was most needed. 

With four clean sheets in a row, Wimbledon first clinched their playoff place, then secured passage to a Wembley final they would win amid joyous scenes. Using the Coaches’ Voice tactics board, he explains the tactical approach he took for the club’s biggest game in years, as they faced the division’s top-scoring side, Walsall.

Starting line-ups

AFC WimbledonWalsall

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AFC Wimbledon3-5-2

Walsall3-4-2-1

1Owen Goodman

1Tommy Simkin

6Ryan Johnson

26David Okagbue

31Joe Lewis

24Harry Williams

26Riley Harbottle

21Taylor Allen

11Josh Neufville

19Nathan Asiimwe

21Myles Hippolyte

15Alfie Chang

4Jake Reeves

25Ryan Stirk

12Alistair Smith

3Liam Gordon

7James Tilley

22Jamie Jellis

18Marcus Browne

20George Hall

14Matty Stevens

9Jamille Matt