JOHNNIE Jackson praised his AFC Wimbledon side's spirit after they recovered from a nightmare start to beat his old club Colchester United 4-2, on the opening day of the League Two season.

Ben Goodliffe scored twice in the opening nine minutes for the U's to stun the hosts, at Plough Lane.

But James Ball's 13th-minute effort got the Dons back into the contest and Jake Reeves equalised with a fine strike on the half hour, before the hosts went ahead through a controversial penalty just before half-time, which Matty Stevens converted.

READ MORE: Colchester United fans have their say on Wimbledon defeat

Omar Bugiel then sealed the Dons' victory early in the second half and Jackson, who played 123 times for the U's during two spells for the club, was happy with the way his side fought back to win.

Jackson said: "It was a great game of football, really good advert for the league.

"It was two teams that wanted to attack and put each other under pressure.

"There were loads of goals and it was good for the paying public, not so good for a coach and manager.

"I think I'll have a heart attack if I've got to do that every Saturday!

(Image: RICHARD BLAXALL)

"After the first nine minutes, I was wondering 'what's going on lads - are we going to pull ourselves together'.

"Colchester made a great start.

"They were full of energy, on the front foot and put us under a lot of pressure with forward balls, forward runs and penalty box entries.

"That was it really; it wasn't a case of playing through us, it was a case of putting us under pressure which is what we'd spoken about trying to do to them.

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"Fair play, their start was brilliant but from our point of view, we don't defend those situations well enough and we know what a threat (Ben) Goodliffe is from those positions.

"We have to do better so there's lots for us to learn but for the boys to bounce back like they did and turn it round so quickly after, let's face it, a nightmare start to the season being 2-0 down in ten minutes, fair play to the boys - it was a real Wimbledon performance.

"You don't know that you're going to back so quickly and win the game but I knew there would be a response from the boys, because they're that type of group.

"They're a good group and we always talk about what they're like as characters, probably before we talk about what they're like as a player really.

"To play here, you have to have a certain spirit about you and the club is built on that."