AFC Wimbledon returned to winning ways at home in emphatic style, coming back from behind to win 4-1, thanks to an Ali Al-Hamadi hat-trick.

Going into half time with a precarious one goal lead, Wimbledon were boosted by Tranmere defender Jordan Turnbull’s sending off, and comfortably secured their first home league win of the season as Al-Hamadi scored two after the break.

Tranmere had the best of the early stages, taking the lead inside five minutes through Connor Jennings, but Wimbledon ground their way back into the game and took the lead before half-time, Armani Little levelling from outside the box and Al-Hamadi putting the Dons ahead with characteristic flair.

The striker completed his brace not long after Turnbull’s red card, and Wimbledon coasted to victory with Al-Hamadi’s late third applying icing to the cake.

Wimbledon manager Johnnie Jackson said: “I wasn’t pleased with the start I’m not going to lie, but now that we’ve won it’s nice that we’ve done it a different way, started poorly and had to come from behind and get our lead and go on, see it out comfortably.

“It’s almost impossible to dominate a game for 90 minutes, you’re always going to have periods that you have to ride out. Today was probably as dominant as you’re going to be, apart from the first 10-15 minutes. I didn’t like the start but I liked the reaction.”

Jennings’ early goal capped Tranmere’s perfect start. Wimbledon had survived two close scares, but were not spared when Jennings met a corner, which had been flicked on to the far post, and struck it inside the far netting.

Tranmere’s occupation of the Dons’ half continued awhile without resistance, but the work of Al-Hamadi and Omar Bugiel began to establish a foothold for an attacking response. Growing Wimbledon pressure caused Tranmere to retreat, deep enough to give the midfield time and space.

Little had already squandered one shooting opportunity with an overhit pass, and the groan it prompted from Plough Lane was surely embedded in his mind. So, when an identical chance fell to him minutes later, he struck it without hesitation, low and into the far corner.

Worryingly for Tranmere, Al-Hamadi was also becoming a growing goal threat. He had tested Luke McGee once before and was looking lively in the channels on the counter. Slipped in by Bugiel’s sumptuous through ball, he burst towards goal, cut inside a retreating body and powered confidently past McGee.

Jackson praised their partnership: “I think they play really well together. Omar’s obviously a different type of centre-forward, he’s one that we were really desperate to bring to the club.”

“Ali’s a great foil because he plays on the shoulder, and teams are obviously worried about him and his pace and Omar’s clever enough to pick up pockets.”

Turnbull’s dismissal was the second half’s first real incident and came when the defender challenged Isaac Ogundere for a loose ball. The clash of bodies echoed around the stadium before disappearing under chants of “Off! Off! Off!”

The referee approached slowly, deliberating, before brandishing the red.

Wimbledon doubled their lead just beyond the hour, Al-Hamadi again combining with Little as the duo played a neat one-two into the box, before the striker completed his brace with a doubtless finish into the far corner.

With a man advantage, Wimbledon’s lead was ironclad and they looked likely to extend it further. After narrowly missing his first chance for a hat-trick, Al-Hamadi was set-up by substitute Josh Neufville’s dash to the byline and cross, which he finished on the swivel to make it 4-1.