AFC Wimbledon 0 Carlisle United 0: Carlisle United remained third in League Two after a hard-fought point on the road in south London.

The Blues had the better of things at the Cherry Red Records Stadium.

But Paul Simpson's side had to settle for a draw in front of 1,024 travelling fans.

Kristian Dennis and Joe Garner had good first-half opportunities while Paul Huntington and Callum Guy came close after the break.

United, at the other end, limited Johnnie Jackson's hosts well, with sub Saikou Janneh and Josh Davison going close late on.

Northampton's 1-1 draw at Rochdale keeps the Blues in the automatic promotion places after the first of a series of long away trips.

Blues manager Simpson made two changes to his starting line-up, recalling Garner in attack and Joel Senior at right wing-back.

Garner replaced JK Gordon up front, while Senior came in for Ben Barclay, who has a calf injury that will keep him out for ten to 12 days, the Blues said.

Owen Moxon was fit to start in midfield despite the dead leg which had limited his training this week.

News and Star: Joe Garner protests to ref Darren HandleyJoe Garner protests to ref Darren Handley (Image: Richard Parkes)

Wimbledon also made two changes, Diallang Jaiyesimi making his first start since his January loan move from Charlton Athletic and experienced Wales international defender Chris Gunter also coming back in to their XI.

A scrappy first half then unfolded with few chances, both sides battling to try and get the upper hand.

Wimbledon had ambitious penalty appeals waved away when a cross struck Morgan Feeney while, at the other end, Jordan Gibson cleared the bar with a long-range free-kick attempt.

Moxon was first into ref Darren Handley's book as he fouled a Dons man as the hosts broke, while Gibson failed to get enough power into another shot from outside the box.

Carlisle were stealing possession well at times and limiting the hosts' attacks, though an Armani Little corner caused problems and forced Tomas Holy to claw the ball from under his crossbar.

A Carlisle corner on 31 minutes gave them their best chance so far, Moxon's near-post delivery met by Dennis but keeper Nik Tzanev leaping to push his header away.

Garner - who felt he deserved more protection from the officials amid certain challenges, then failed to make the most of an opportunity after winning the ball close to the Dons box as the hosts tried to play out.

Guy and Ethan Chislett couldn't make the most of half chances for either side, before Garner found space but headed a back-post Moxon corner wide in first-half added time.

News and Star: Joe Garner heads wideJoe Garner heads wide (Image: Richard Parkes)

That was followed by a skirmish involving United's Huntington and the hosts' Paul Kalambayi, who squared up and were eventually both booked by ref Handley, much of whose display left little to be desired in the first 45.

After the break, Chislett failed to make the most of a Moxon error before both managers eventually made changes, Gordon and Patrick into the attack for Carlisle as chances remained at a premium.

Carlisle, though, had the better of things, a Gibson cross drifting agonisingly out of Dennis's reach, and then a series of corners seeing the Blues apply further pressure.

From one, Huntington met a Feeney header but saw his shot deflected over, and from the next, the ball was eventually worked to Guy, whose attempt was pushed wide by keeper Tzanev.

A further break saw Patrick supply Gibson but his near-post finish was deflected into Tzanev's hands in the last of Carlisle's chances.

Wimbledon saw ambitious penalty shouts waved away when sub Ali Al-Hamadi went down under a Feeney challenge.

The hosts then broke through subs Kasey McAteer and Saikou Janneh, whose shot was blocked by Senior, and Lee Brown's follow-up also blocked - fairly, said ref Handley, dismissing handball appeals.

The Dons applied injury-time pressure but Josh Davison turned a late cross over the bar, United failing to score for a second successive game but doing enough to stay third going into Tuesday's home clash with Mansfield Town.

Wimbledon: Tzanev, Gunter, Brown, Pearce, Kalambayi, Pell (Al-Hamadi 63), Chislett (McAteer 85), Woodyard, Little, Jaiyesimi (Janneh 63), Davison. Not used: Broome, Marsh, Pierre, Currie.

Booked: Kalambayi.

United: Holy, Feeney, Huntington, Armer, Senior, Armer, Guy, Moxon, Gibson, Garner (Gordon 63), Dennis (Patrick 74). Not used: Kelly, Whelan, Devitt, McCalmont, Robinson.

Booked: Moxon, Huntington.

Ref: Darren Handley.

Crowd: 7,876 (1,024 Carlisle fans).