AFC Wimbledon refusing to go quietly as League One survival fight takes a fresh twist
AFC Wimbledon grabbed a second consecutive away League One win in a remarkable victory at Rochdale on Tuesday.
Joe Pigott scored three and made the other one as the Dons grabbed a last-gasp winner in a seven-goal thriller.
Wimbledon manager Wally Downes opted again for five at the back with stand-in skipper Will Nightingale alongside Rod McDonald and Tyrell Thomas in in the centre. This allowed a midfield trio to support Pigott and Watford loanee Michael Folivi.
It was a game that the Dons dominated, missing chance after chance as they pressed their hosts throughout – but one in which defensive lapses could have cost them dearly. Indeed two points would have slipped through their grasp had referee Michael Salisbury not awarded the visitors their first penalty of the season in the dying seconds
It was the antithesis of the ultra-defensive performances that marked the last years of the Neal Ardley era. The Dons poured forward at every opportunity with Folivi tireless in support of Pigott.
Almost the last bit of business Ardley did was to extend the former Maidstone striker’s contract and Wimbledon will be very grateful that he did as Pigott showed all his poacher’s instincts for the first two goals, superb awareness for the back-heel that put Anthony Wordsworth in for the third and coolness under pressure as he dispatched the late penalty to seal the win.
An in-form Pigott teamed with the skills and pace of Folivi to give the South Londoners a real threat up front, the rest of their expensive forward line on the treatment table.
With James Hanson back in training and games against relegation rivals coming thick and fast, this victory provides momentum at just the right time.
Left-back Steve Seddon was outstanding – just as he was at Walsall. The Dons will be thanking tomorrow’s visitors Charlton Athletic for creating the vacancy that brought him in when they poached Ben Purrington.
On the other flank, Toby Sibbick grows and grows both as a flying wing back and an ever improving defender. With Shane McLoughlin bossing things with Wordsworth in midfield, Wimbledon are starting to look like a side capable of putting a real run of form together.
Make no mistake, the Dons are still in deep trouble with relegation remaining highly likely. But six away points out of six and two gutsy if different performances gives hope that they could yet pull off a Houdini-like escape act.
Downes was quick to praise the fighting spirit of his charges and observe that if Wimbledon do go down it will not be without a fight.
This was a performance to stir the hearts of the 144 travelling supporters. This was about passion, a never-say-die attitude and a team that refused to stop driving forward.
Yes, Rochdale were poor but AFC Wimbledon wanted it more. It was a crazy night, a crazy score and from the dugout two founder members of the Crazy Gang must have watched on with pride at a performance that rolled back the years.
AFC Wimbledon (3-5-2): Ramsdale 8, Thomas 7, McDonald 7, Nightingale 7 Sibbick 7, Hartigan 6, Wordsworth 7 (Pinnock 89), McLoughlin 8 (Wagstaff 75), Seddon 8, Pigott 9, Folivi 7 (Jervis 76). Not used: McDonnell, Watson, Barcham, Burey.
Pics by Sean Gosling