Alex Woodyard outlines how Portsmouth’s new managerial duo revived his career + why Dons have no fear in relegation battle

BY RICHARD CAWLEY
richard@slpmedia.co.uk

Alex Woodyard has been a first-team regular at AFC Wimbledon this season, but reckons that his extended spell back as an EFL player would not have been possible without the help of the Cowley brothers.

The 27-year-old has captained the Dons ever since Mark Robinson succeeded Glyn Hodges towards the end of February.

Woodyard makes no attempt to downplay the impact that Danny Cowley and his brother Nicky, who recently took charge at Portsmouth, had in reigniting his career. Pompey are the final visitors to Plough Lane in the current campaign.

Woodyard played for the Cowleys at Concord Rangers and Braintree Town before also following the duo to Lincoln City, winning the National League title in the 2016-17 season.

“They probably got me at a time when my football wasn’t great,” said Woodyard, who was released by Southend in 2013. “I was struggling and I wasn’t really going anywhere.

“I had a really good season with them at Concord and the same at Braintree, we finished third in the National League. Then we won the league with Lincoln and got to the quarter finals of the FA Cup. The journey speaks for itself – words can’t describe that.

“They saw the ability I had. They are good at putting an arm around you. I needed that. They got the best out of me. I had football moments there that I’ll never forget.

“I had a really special relationship with Danny and Nicky. They are busy people, always full on with their managerial and coaching stuff, but they are on the phone if I need to chat about football or if I’ve got to make a decision. They are people I’d ask for advice.”

Woodyard’s performances for the Imps saw Peterborough United activate a release clause in his contract in the summer of 2018.

He made 51 appearances in the following season but Steve Evans was sacked in February 2019 and replaced by Darren Ferguson.

“I was captain and had played every minute of every game, apart from a couple where I was either injured or suspended,” said Woodyard. “When Ferguson came in he pushed me out straight away.

“Sometimes a new manager just wants to bring in different players. It’s football, isn’t it? He [Ferguson] told me I didn’t have a future but then I ended up having to play games because he needed me. You get a lot of people saying: ‘I’m not playing for him after that’ but if I had the opportunity to play then I wanted to take it, because it put me in the shop window. I knew I was going to leave in the January.

“I’m always happy to play and help my team-mates.”

Woodyard ended up at Tranmere but less than two months later the League One campaign shut down due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Rovers were relegated after clubs voted to decide placings on a points-per-game basis.

Wimbledon were one of the other teams battling the drop when the virus halted play.

This time Woodyard has the chance to see the job through with Saturday’s 1-0 win over Northampton boosting their hopes of climbing out of the bottom four.

But the midfielder, who signed a two-year contract with the Dons after his release by Posh, is not feeling the pressure.

“It’s weird,” he said. “People probably think you are lying if you say that, but I’d say the general mood is that we’re not fearing a relegation battle. There are still 30 points to play for and we’re in a good place.

“If we were struggling for performances and also losing, or not picking up points, then it would be a different story. But we have been getting positive results and performances.

“Robbo talks about the process and that if you get the performances right then you will get points. We’ve only lost one of our last seven matches.”

Last weekend saw Woodyard clock up his 100th League One appearance. He has started 31 of their 36 league matches but downplays his influence.

“I’d be stupid to say I’ve been fantastic because we’re near the bottom of the table,” he said. “It is hard for anyone to say they’ve been absolutely fantastic.

“But personal performances are looked at as being far better when you are winning games, compared to if you produce the same performance and you are losing.

“It’s been a tough season but the last few months have been better.

“I’m definitely confident we’ll stay up. We’ve got a quality bunch of players and Joe Pigott is one of the top goalscorers in the league. When you have got a goalscorer then you’re in a good place.

“He’s up there as one of the best strikers I’ve played with. It is hard for him, because he has been playing at the bottom end of the table and a lot of the other top goalscorers are at teams higher up – they create a lot more chances.

“So for him to have scored as many goals as he has done is all credit to him.”

Pics by Keith Gillard and Paul Edwards