AFC Wimbledon’s play-off hopes take a hit after insipid display at Accrington Stanley

BY DAVE HUNT-JACKSON AT WHAM STADIUM

AFC Wimbledon’s hope of a League Two play-off place were firmly dented as they succumbed to a 2-0 defeat against a decidedly ordinary looking Accrington Stanley on Tuesday night.

Two spectacular strikes were the only highlights of a lacklustre encounter with a display by both the Dons team and management that was as insipid as their performance against Barrow three days before had been outstanding.

Boss Johnnie Jackson made just one change to the side that beat high- flying Barrow with fit again John- Kymani Gordon replacing Ronan Curtis, who dropped to the bench.

It was a drab start to proceedings as Stanley seemed content to pass the ball between their centre-backs before hoofing aimless balls into the visitors’ half while the Dons seemed struggled to impose themselves.

As the half wore on the sides continued to cancel each other out with chances at a premium, neither side mustered a single shot in anger.

Although James Tilley and Josh Kelly looked lively on the right wing and in the centre respectively, the Dons were unable to carve out any clear-cut opportunities and a largely forgettable first half came to an end with the scores deadlocked.

It took Accrington just five second-half minutes to grab the lead as Jack Nolan netted from outside the box after the Dons failed to clear their lines and give the home side an undeserved lead.

The South Londoners responded well enough to going behind and should have had the opportunity to draw level from the spot when Kelly was hauled to the floor in the box but, just as at Bradford, poor refereeing cost the Dons dearly.

Kofi Balmer then had the visitors’ best chance of the game with a header following a set-piece but Radek Vitek in the Accrington goal pulled off a fine save to deny him.

With the game crying out for a change of formation, Jackson chose instead to make four like-for-like changes which left Josh Davison and Harry Pell up front instead of the far more dangerous pairing of Kelly and Omar Bugiel.

Sure enough within a couple of minutes of those changes Ben Woods put the game to bed with a fine strike from outside the box.

Although Wimbledon then enjoyed the lion’s share of possession for the remaining minutes they still failed to muster a meaningful chance.

All too often this season the Dons have followed good performances with bad. If they are to have any chance of figuring in the promotion race they have got to perform closer to their best on a far more regular basis.

Two of their worst performances came in the back-to-back defeats against Stanley at home and then in Morecambe.

With the Shrimpers visiting Plough Lane tomorrow, the Dons supporters will be demanding far better from their team in the return fixture.

STAR MAN
James Ball (pictured). A creditable imitation of the much-missed injured skipper Jake Reeves

BEST MOMENT
Balmer’s fine header that forced an excellent double save from Vitek.

PICTURE: KEITH GILLARD