The talking points from AFC Wimbledon’s 3-0 win over Morecambe – Dons dominant at home but need to find right balance on the road

BY EDMUND BRACK
edmund@slpmedia.co.uk

AFC Wimbledon got back to winning ways following Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Notts County with a convincing
3-0 victory over bottom-of-the-table Morecambe on Tuesday night.

Goals from James Tilley, Omar Bugiel and Matty Stevens gave the Dons all three points and continued their perfect home record in League Two this campaign.

Here are the talking points from the game:

NEED TO FIND A BALANCE AWAY FROM PLOUGH LANE

There is no disputing AFC Wimbledon’s impressive home form this season under Johnnie Jackson.

The win over Morecambe put them top of the home form table in League Two with 15 points from five matches.

Not only is that a perfect record but they have at least one home game in hand over every club bar Fleetwood following the postponement of the Crewe and Accrington outings due to the flooding from the River Wandle, which badly damaged the Plough Lane pitch.

They have netted 15 times at home – the most of any team in the division.

But the stats make for different reading on the road.

Wimbledon have only won once in 15 attempts away from SW19 and suffered defeats at Salford and Bromley – two clubs at the wrong end of the table.

With the big spenders all gone this season after Wrexham, Stockport and Mansfield were promoted, there is a real chance for Wimbledon to end their three-season stint in the fourth tier .

They just have to find a way of getting points away from home, and there would be no better starting point than against league leaders Port Vale tomorrow.

MORECAMBE SET OUT PERFECT FIRST-HALF GAME PLAN

The last team who arrived at Plough Lane bottom of the table, Carlisle, were absolutely played off the park and booed by their travelling support at the end of both halves.

Derek Adams’ Morecambe may have been 24th in League Two on paper, but the Shrimps’ first-half performance should offer a slice of solace heading into the busy winter schedule.

The defensive unit of Rhys Williams, Jamie Stott and Luke Hendire frustrated the life out of Omar Bugiel and looked to stop Alistair Smith from getting on the ball to dictate the play from the centre of the pitch.

They had to call on their goalkeeper Stuart Moore to keep their clean sheet intact. He saved a tame header from Stevens and kept out Tilley’s low-driven shot at the back post before half-time.

The game went away from them in the second half, but they gave Wimbledon a lot to think about at half-time.

TILLEY BACK TO HIS VERY BEST

It was always going to take something special to break down the stubborn Morecambe defence, and when Tilley took aim on his right foot from distance, it was an effort worthy of three points.

It was the first time the former Crawley winger had found the back of the net in League Two since the 2-2 draw with Crewe on September 16 last season.

It was a just reward for the fine form Tilley, 26, has displayed since finding a new place in the team in the left wing-back role.

BALL CONTINUES TO IMPRESS AT CENTRE-BACK

James Ball, a midfielder by trade,  kept his spot in the centre of the defence with Riley Harbottle coming off injured against Notts County on Saturday.

The 28-year-old played in the centre of a back three and had the ability to dictate play and showed excellent composure on the ball when pressed.

Ball made the most passes (71) of any Dons player and had the best pass completion percentage (81) of any of the back three.

He also won five aerial battles and made six clearances.

PICTURE: KEITH GILLARD