LATICS failed to convert their chances despite another display of attacking football against a resolute AFC Wimbledon side at a sodden Boundary Park.

Richie Wellens made one enforced change to the line-up with Dan Gardner serving a one-match suspension after receiving a fifth booking in Saturday’s victory over Rochdale. Paul Green was given a rare start in midfield ahead of potential contenders Abdelhakim Omrani and Queensy Menig.

Menig, the flying Dutchman on loan for the season from French top flight side Nantes, drew criticism from the manager this week after it emerged that he refused to play 45 minutes for the reserves following the international break.

Wellens revealed the winger, 22, point-blank refused when asked to turn out with the second string.

The Latics boss said: “Queensy is a talented player but he needs to improve his attitude – it’s as simple as that.

“I asked him if he’d like to play in the reserves for 45 minutes against Burnley last week and his answer was no.

“So if he says no, he doesn’t start in the first team. I asked Anthony Gerrard and Gevaro Nepomuceno the same thing, they said yes.

“I’m fine with players having a few days off when there’s an international break, but when they come back they have got to work, otherwise they don’t start games in the first team.”

Athletic started this one on a soaking Tuesday night with their now familiar attacking intent in evidence from the word go.

Eoin Doyle placed a shot the wrong side of the right-hand upright after a neat interchange between Jack Byrne and Nepomuceno with only two minutes played.

With Latics well on top – several half-chances followed – it seemed only a matter of time before the Wombles’ net would ripple.

When it finally did – Craig Davies firing home a rebound after ’keeper George Long could only parry a Nepomuceno stinger on 20 minutes – an offside flag came to the visitors’ rescue.

It really was all Athletic – Gerrard, Ousmane Fane, Doyle and Davies again went close – but Wimbledon, although not much of an attacking threat aside from brief forays into the Athletic half that came to nothing, were proving an awkward side to break down.

Sensing there was only one way this game was going, Wimbledon boss Neal Ardley switched from 4-4-2 to 3-5-2 at half time in a bid to stifle Athletic’s dominant creative midfield hub.

For a time, it worked. Latics became sloppy and disjointed.

The much-maligned Menig was given his opportunity from the bench along with Aaron Amadi-Holloway with 20 minutes remaining as Wellens attempted to regain control for his side. There was controversy on 74 minutes when ‘keeper Long appeared to collect a routine cross outside the area. Home fans were enraged as the referee did nothing.

That cranked up the noise inside Boundary Park as Latics – at last – moved up a gear.

With Wimbledon now seemingly content to see out the game, Byrne wriggled free of his man only to see his well-struck shot from just outside the box whistle inches wide with 10 minutes left.

Wellens threw on a third frontman in Courtney Duffus with four minutes remaining as the kitchen sink was hurled at the visitors.

In a move reminiscent of Doyle’s scorcher from Saturday, Amadi-Holloway flicked on a hopeful ball into Doyle’s path in stoppage time but this time the Irishman’s well-struck shot was too high.

LATICS (4-4-2): Placide, Dummigan, Gerrard (cpt), Bryan, Hunt (Duffus 86); Fane, Green, Byrne, Nepomuceno (Menig 71); Davies (Amadi-Holloway 71), Doyle. Subs (not used): Ben Wilson, Brian Wilson, Omrani, Clarke. Booked: Bryan 14.

AFC WIMBLEDON (4-4-2): Long, Fuller, Oshilaja, Charles, Francomb (Robinson 83); Forrester, Trotter, Barcham, Soares (Meades 46); Taylor, McDonald (Hartigan 66). Subs (not used): McDonnell, Abdou, Sibbick, Kalambayi. Booked: Long 90.

Attendance: 3,169 (147 away).