Wimbledon suffered their second defeat inside a year to Millwall and their first of this pre-season campaign so far, but boss Terry Brown was still a happy man after a positive work out against full strength Championship opposition.

The Dons were unable to gain any sort of revenge for last November's end to a money-spinning FA Cup run and even though feet should remain firmly rooted to the ground to avoid getting carried away so early, there were encouraging signs for the management and supporters alike against Kenny Jackett's team.

Wimbledon went with an established line-up from the start, with just under a month to go now before the big kick-off at Southport. Seb Brown and his back four from right to left of Sam Hatton, Ismail Yakubu, Brett Johnson and the speedy and creative Andre Blackman, had the tough task of trying to contain two successful graduates from the non-league game in recent seasons in the Millwall front line of Steve Morison and Shaun Batt. Steven Gregory was flanked by Sam Moore and Rashid Yussuff in midfield with Luke Moore to the right and Jon Main to the left of skipper Danny Kedwell up front.

The first half got off to a lively start and helped set the tone. The Dons had the first real opportunity when the ball was floated in to Main after three minutes but he blasted the ball high and wide in front of a well populated Millwall following at the Kingston Road End. Down at the other end, as Millwall pressed there was nearly an own goal from Blackman as he stretched to stop a cross, but his defensive colleagues collected and cleared the ball with a minimum of fuss.

After only seven minutes the visitors did put the ball emphatically in the back of the Dons net. Johnson brought down Batt in the area and from the penalty spot former Stevenage front man Morison struck confidently down the centre, leaving Seb Brown no chance. Four minutes later the Dons almost made amends at the other end. From a free kick for a foul on Kedwell, Luke Moore's ball found Kedwell's head, only to see his attempt on goal rattle the crossbar.

Millwall then turned on the pressure. With a quarter of an hour gone Brown collected a header by Morison after Gregory gave away a free kick on the right of the area. Batt took the ball down the right side but shot over after 22 minutes and Danny Schofield fed Batt on the half hour mark only for Yakubu to tidy up for Brown in the Dons goal. However, Batt's involvement came to an end with just over ten minutes to the break after going for a ball with Yakubu and after a lengthy stoppage he was taken off on a stretcher. The Dons defence then faced a new threat in the shape of the Lions' legendary striker Neil Harris who came on as Batt's replacement.

When play restarted, the Dons looked for a way back in as Hatton's crossfield ball to Main on the left was cut out by Alan Dunne. Seb Brown got just enough of a touch to stop a Schofield effort and the Dons went searching again just before the whistle as Luke Moore had a free-kick blocked following Dunne's tug on Blackman's shirt, and then Yussuff and Main linked up well just as the break loomed.

Rather than change to a completely different side at the start of the second half, the changes to the line up were gradual and it wasn't until around twenty minutes from the end that Dons had made ten of their substitutions, with only Sam Moore remaining from the original line up. Jack Turner took over in goal and there was a chance to impress at left back for former Arsenal youngster Rene Steer. Ryan Jackson came in at right back, with trialists Ed Harris and Fraser Franks making up the rest of the back four. The two central defenders left their prospective new manager with a difficult decision to make, such has been the quality of their efforts. Christian Jolley, Ricky Wellard and Reece Jones were introduced into midfield and there were also appearances from Elliott Frost and Javon Molloy.

Millwall keeper David Forde was forced into action on 49 minutes as first he tipped the ball over and then punched the resulting corner clear. Harris floated an effort just wide for Millwall a minute later. Jolley's introduction for Wimbledon also helped Sam Moore to take a more noticeable role in the game and Moore was able to show clearly how he has forced his way into Terry Brown's plans. Jolley also turned creator for a chance for Wellard, as the former Kingstonian youngster showed touches of why he could be a very wise investment.

Despite the changes from both sides the second half still continued to be entertaining and play evened out. Steer provided a good left side cross for Molloy on 71 minutes, there was some good interplay between Wellard and Jones that forced a save out of Forde, and Franks headed over a corner with ten minutes remaining. Millwall were prevented from doubling their lead when Turner came out to save from substitute Gary Alexander and then Franks and Turner combined to stop the follow-up.

The first week of preparation should go down as having achieved what it was set out to do - an increase in fitness levels, hardly any injury concerns (with only a two week lay-off for Mark Nwokeji, while Lee Minshull was only absent due to a troublesome toenail). It also saw the start of the squad learning to play together as a team, with two victories as an added bonus at this stage. The focus of attention now switches back to non-league opposition and short trips to Corinthian-Casuals followed by Woking in the first ever meeting for the Phil Ledger Memorial Cup.