Dons boss Mark Bowen hails the influence of captain Alex Woodyard since his arrival
AFC Wimbledon manager Mark Bowen hailed the influence of Alex Woodyard after the midfielder opened the scoring in their 1-1 draw with Milton Keynes on Saturday.
The 29-year-old Dons captain scored in the 19th minute at Plough Lane when he took aim from the edge of the box, and his shot ricocheted off a sea of bodies en route to goal which wrongfooted Jamie Cumming.
Woodyard has only missed six minutes of League One football this season from the games he has started. He is out of contract at the end of the season,
Despite Woodyard scoring his first goal of the season, Troy Parrott’s 80th-minute strike denied Wimbledon their first win since December 7.
“He was fantastic,” Bowen told the South London Press.
“The captain has been great since I have come into the building – his positive [influence] has been evident as well.
“I have been speaking to him a lot about the way the team has been going. They are all bitterly disappointed – they really feel it deep in their hearts.
“But I have got a good captain in the dressing room there – I have got a few captains actually, but he is the one who wears the armband.
“It’s people such as him who you need heading into four big games.
“We’re not in a bad place mentally, believe me. We will see what the game against Crewe brings next week.”
MAIN PICTURE: LUCY DIXON
BOWEN PICTURE: KEITH GILLARD