Four takeaways from AFC Wimbledon’s 2-2 draw at Bradford City – Chislett an enigma and a fine response to a setback

BY DAVE HUNT-JACKSON

AFC Wimbledon could not close out a League Two win despite an improved performance as they conceded an injury-time equaliser at the University of Bradford Stadium on Saturday.

Vadaine Oliver, so often a thorn in the Dons’ side, cancelled out Ethan Chislett’s stunning free-kick.

Referee Darren Drysdale had gifted the hosts a free-kick from which Crystal Palace loanee Scott Banks put the Bantams in front, only for Harry Pell to re-open his account following his return to the South London fold.

Here are Dave Hunt-Jackson’s takeaways from the match.

SOMETIMES IT’S BETTER TO BE LUCKY THAN GOOD

 If Paul Osew had been fit he might well have started at right-back – as implied by Johnnie Jackson in his pre-match interview – but instead Issac Ogundere was handed a first league start and played as to the manor born. His display going both forwards and in defence was way superior to anything Osew has offered since eventually deigning to sign a new deal.

Riley Towler’s reward for three excellent performances since signing on loan was to be dropped to the bench with Will Nightingale preferred. Like Harry Pell against Carlisle, it was hard to fathom why Towler had not retained his place in the starting line up.

Has Alex Pearce not been injured after just six minutes Towler would not have been there to provide a masterful display in the centre of the Dons’ defence.

Whether the change of style to ditch the passing triangles between Pearce, Lee Brown and Nik Tzanev was through choice or circumstance, one can only hope they are gone for good as the more direct style of play put Bradford on the back foot for much of this match.

A FINE RESPONSE TO GOING BEHIND

There are few, if any, referees at this level or several below it as bad as Darren Drysdale and when Bradford scored from a wrongly-awarded free-kick it would have been easy for the visitors’ heads to drop. Instead they set about trying to level the scores and even after Drysdale had ignored a rugby tackle on Josh Davison that would have been a penalty, given even a half-competent official, they still kept on the front foot and had twice hit the woodwork before Pell’s second-half equaliser.

They were fully deserving of the lead and only poor game management from a side not used to leading, cost them all three points five minutes into injury time.

MORE OF THE SAME PLEASE

This was a much-improved performance and far better than the somewhat pyrrhic victory over a 10-man Crawley reserve team on the previous Tuesday, but it still means that Wimbledon have collected just this point from a possible 15. It is a display they must build and improve upon when lowly Colchester United visit on Saturday. There is really no excuse, injuries permitting, for the side that played most of the 90 minutes against Bradford not to start against the U’s.

Ogundere should be allowed to build on this excellent start and Towler has shown himself to be the Dons’ most effective centre-half. It seems highly unlikely that Jackson will abandon the 3-5-2 formation, but hopefully he will resist the temptation to tinker with the personnel. Having praised his team for their efforts at Bradford he must reward those efforts and allow this young but motivated line-up the chance to double down on their display. They will surely benefit from a more settled selection policy.

THE ENIGMATIC ETHAN CHISLETT

One man who has had plenty of game time under Jackson is Ethan Chislett, who scored his third goal of the season with a beautifully executed free-kick. He has suddenly developed into a real deadball specialist, albeit he strangely he doesn’t take corners. What he also doesn’t do, or not often enough, is take on the opposition. Whereas the likes of Ayoub Assal and Paris Maghoma will run at defenders for fun, all too often when Chislett is faced with an opponent he will pass the ball back or square. For a player who operates so far up the field he needs to add this dimension to his game. Goals from midfield are priceless but just as important are assists and once Chislett adds a few to his tally and takes the confidence from the faith his manager clearly has in him he will be one of the South Londoners’ most potent weapons.

PICTURES: LUCY DIXON