‘Outstanding and magnificent’ – Dons boss hails Alex Woodyard following 2-1 win at Rochdale

AFC Wimbledon boss Johnnie Jackson hailed the impact of captain Alex Woodyard following the 2-1 win away to Rochdale.

The Dons, who had lost their last two outings in League Two, collected all three points at the Crown Oil Arena thanks to goals from Ayoub Assal and Josh Davison.

Assal gave the Dons the lead in the 39th minute. Alex Woodyard drove towards goal and exchanged passes with Harry Pell before taking aim at goal.

Woodyard’s shot deflected into the path of Assal, who lifted the ball over the onrushing Richard O’Donnell to open the scoring.

Jackson’s side doubled their advantage in the second half when Josh Davison latched onto a Jack Currie clearance and powered towards goal. The ex-Charlton man took the ball under his control and slotted his shot underneath O’Donnell to extend Wimbledon’s lead.

Rochdale pulled one back through Tyrese Sinclair, but the Dons hung on to secure their first away victory since the 2-0 win against Crawley Town on August 20.

Speaking to Wimbledon’s official media, Jackson said: “I’m just really pleased with the victory, first and foremost, but I’m also really pleased with the shift that my lads put in today on the back of a tricky run of late.

“We knew how important the game was, so it’s the start of a really positive week for us.

“We knew we needed a performance to get anything here, because that had been on a good run.

“We got what we deserved today.”

Jackson handed Alex Woodyard his first start of the season since the 29-year-old returned from a calf injury which had seen him sidelined for the past six months.

“I thought he was magnificent. I don’t like to single out individuals too much, but he’s been out a long time, and he’s a really important player for this football club – being the captain of the club and the way he knits everything together. 

“The fact that he got through the amount of minutes, the shift that he got through, the quality that he brought to us and that experienced head [he brings] when we need it in games when it’s really tight – I thought he was outstanding.

“I’m really pleased to have him back.”

PHOTOS: LUCY DIXON