Mark Robinson wants Dons to play with intensity but challenging fixture schedule could make that more difficult

BY DAVE-HUNT-JACKSON

AFC Wimbledon produced another largely solid performance and came away with another valuable point from a trip to Blackpool on Saturday.

There were many similarities with the draw at Shrewsbury four days earlier. Not least that it was another away destination that has not been a happy hunting ground for the Dons. They haven’t won in Shropshire since 1984, but have never tasted victory at Bloomfield Road, with just one goal and one point from five previous visits.

Head coach Mark Robinson made two changes with Jack Rudoni preferred to Callum Reilly and Luke O’Neill in at right-back to allow Darnell Johnson to partner Will Nightingale.

The problem with Johnson is that he is arguably both the best centre-half and best right-back in the squad, so choosing where to play him will inevitably be difficult.

The South Londoners fell behind, just as they did on Tuesday. This time it was due to a clever deflection from Ellis Simms that resulted from a period of pressure early in the second period and was perhaps the only time Blackpool really got on top.

It was Ollie Palmer, returning from injury, that was the hero from the bench albeit his clever flicked equaliser came three minutes into injury time. A fit Palmer should offer Robinson some attacking variation with both Joe Pigott and Ryan Longman long overdue a rest.

Robinson was pleased with the way Wimbledon played in the opening 15 minutes as they pressed and harried their hosts and this is clearly the blueprint he wants to take forward. Arguably if this style is able to undermine the likes of Shrewsbury and Blackpool, who are both decent mid-table sides, it should be at least as effective against the teams around the relegation zone, six of whom await Wimbledon during March.

The question is whether or not they will be able to maintain such an intense style of play with so many fixtures coming thick and fast. Pigott seems to have played every minute of every game he has been fit for and Longman and Woodyard are not far behind.

Having the luxury of using five substitutes will help and no doubt if the Dons ever had the luxury of a decent lead their overworked forward would get a rest and perhaps Zach Robinson or Corrie Andrews, when fit, might get some game time.

One thing that is clear is Robinson has already began to instil the set of values that are at the heart of his management philosophy. He has said the players care and based on the showing both on Saturday and Tuesday, that cannot be disputed. They are no longer a side nervous with the lead and are becoming a team that will not accept defeat and believe they are capable of upsetting anyone.

With a string of games that will decide the fate of the bottom seven or so clubs ahead of them, Wimbledon are in good shape for the challenge of escaping the relegation zone although resurgent Burton Albion, who they entertain on Tuesday night, will provide another stern challenge.

STAR MAN
Darnell Johnson. A towering display at the heart of the Wimbledon defence.

BEST MOMENT
Ollie Palmer’s sublime flick to grab at point at the death