Terry Brown has backed under-fire AFC Wimbledon keeper James Pullen by revealing the 27-year-old will remain first-choice at Kingsmeadow.

Pullen was at fault for both Cambridge United goals as the Dons were forced to settle for a point in a 2-2 draw at the Abbey Stadium last weekend, prompting speculation Seb Brown could be recalled for the trip to Luton on Saturday.

But Brown has rubbished that talk by insisting Pullen is his number one.

He said: “James will start against Luton no question.

“Yes he made a couple of errors for the goals but he also made a couple of great saves so it is wrong to lay all the blame at his door.

“You cannot drop James when he makes a mistake, then drop Seb when he makes a mistake - goalkeeping does not work like that.

“James needs a run of games - he is my first team goalkeeper and I will use him as such.

“I have a lot of faith in the three goalkeepers I have here and it is a nice position to be in.

“There is no issue with Seb - he is a pretty placid character and he has progressed far more than he expected in such a short time.

“There is competition between him and James but it is a healthy one.”

Lewis Taylor bagged both Wimbledon goals as they were held by ten-man Cambridge.

And Brown reckons the midfielder comes into his own when the Dons hit the road.

He added: “Lewis has definitely come up trumps recently.

“The way we set up he is far more effective away from home at bigger grounds.

“On bigger pitches there is more room for him to use his ability - he is a fantastic athlete who can run all day and at Kingsmeadow where things are pretty cramped he does not get the chance to show that.”

Luton and Oxford United are the next two games for Wimbledon - both on the road.

But, despite seeing his side slip to eighth in the Blue Square Premier table, the Dons boss insists his side must look past the two former league sides.

Brown added: “Whether or not we will make the play-offs this year will not hinge on these next two games.

“After these nine of our last 14 league games are at home and that will be make or break.

“Obviously we want to do well at Luton and Oxford but the truth is that if we get our home form in order and beat the sides we should beat we have a great chance of a top-five finish.”

AFC Wimbledon’s next three matches: Feb 20 Luton Town (a), 23 Oxford United (a), Mar 2 Chipstead (SSC, a)