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Brendan Rodgers hails character as Liverpool come through Wimbledon scare

Reds boss says his side should have scored in the second half but was full of praise for Neil Ardley’s men.

BRENDAN RODGERS ADMITTED he was more than relieved after Liverpool avoided an FA Cup upset with a 2-1 win over AFC Wimbledon.

Captain Steven Gerrard’s double booked the seven-time winners’ place in the fourth round – where they will face Bolton Wanderers – but they had to withstand some pressure from their hosts.

Fourth-tier Wimbledon levelled through Abebayo Akinfenwa before half-time, but they were guilty of wasting chances while in the ascendancy.

Rodgers admitted his side had taken their foot off the pedal at times, but he felt their second-half performance warranted a place in the next round.

“It was a very tough game, congratulations to AFC Wimbledon – they made it very difficult,” he told BBC Sport. ”We started well like we’d want to, controlling the game, but then we lost our shape within the game and we presented them chances by giving the ball away.

“We adapted at half-time but we still had to defend all the way through to the end. The physicality always puts you under pressure – they have good delivery.

“The ball came into the box consistently and of course that can be a threat. You’ll never be overly comfortable in those situations.

“I’ve got to give a lot of testament to my players – they showed a lot of character. In the second half, we should have had two or three more goals.”

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