Will Nightingale is defiant AFC Wimbledon will “come back stronger” after they suffered last-minute heartbreak against Charlton Athletic.

Naby Sarr’s free-kick cancelled out Watford loanee Michael Folivi’s first goal for the Dons before substitute Igor Vetokele scored in the 91st minute.

The defeat, Wimbledon’s first in two games following crucial wins at Walsall and Rochdale, now leaves them seven points adrift of safety.

Nightingale admits League One’s bottom club were perhaps affected by their slender lead but insists they will recover from their latest result.

Speaking after the Charlton defeat, he said: “We've come in at half time 1-0 up and it's a massive opportunity to get the three points, that would've been our third league win in a row.

“We all know how important it is.

“I know Charlton is right up at the top but I don't care who I face, every game has got to be a chance to win three points now. Especially the position we're in.

“We were aware of the fact that they were going to come out at us, and maybe the fact that we had something to hold onto we naturally dropped - which we can't because I think we've got to carry on playing how we did in the first half.”

Goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, who pulled off several important saves, was left rooted to his spot by Sarr’s free-kick before seeing Vetokele bundle home the finish.

Nightingale suggested the Dons shot-stopper was affected by the sun being in his eyes but frustrated with how the winner was conceded.

While Bristol Rovers and Rochdale also lost, Oxford United’s win at Blackpool means Wimbledon must put points on the board.

When asked his thoughts about results elsewhere in League One, Nightingale added: “I think a couple of results went our way and a couple didn't, so the way I see it we shouldn't buy ourselves into that too much.

“We've got to focus on ourselves.

“Today [against Charlton] was a chance, like I said, to get three league wins in a row. All right, we've not done that, so now we go to Shrewsbury and we start another run. We've got to get another run going.

“I'm not going to lie, it's deflated us a little, but I'm telling you now we're going to come back stronger from it.”