Wally Downes: AFC Wimbledon players should take heart from recent form

BY SAM SMITH

Wally Downes felt his AFC Wimbledon were deserving of their point against Blackpool on Saturday afternoon.

The Dons played out a goalless draw with the Tangerines, although both sides had good chances to win the game.

Tom King made two excellent saves in the first half to keep the play-off chasers at bay, and Terell Thomas twice came within inches of scoring for the hosts.

“It was a hard-fought game with very few big chances,” said Downes. “We defended them well and just lacked a bit of quality when the opportunities came.

“A point apiece was fair, they’re a good side who are just outside the play-offs. We’re gauging a bit of improvement, though, this was the first clean sheet under myself. Good sides are built from the back. Keeping clean sheets frees up your creative players to be more expansive and to take more risks, knowing the defence is going to be more solid behind them.

“We took our chances in the two games before this and set up the possibility to have a nine-point week. If you’re getting nine points in a week, that’s title form, certainly promotion form. Unfortunately we haven’t got those nine points this week but we’ve got the next best thing is which is seven points and a clean sheet.

“The players should take heart from the Christmas period and hopefully we can move it on into the new year.”

IMAGES BY PAUL EDWARDS