Dave Hunt-Jackson’s AFC Wimbledon takeaways – Currie imperious and Sasu merits run as Jackson’s side toothless at Crewe

For the second time this season AFC Wimbledon blew a lead against promotion-chasing Crewe and further dented their fading League Two play-off hopes.

Despite John Kymani-Gordon putting them in front inside two minutes the sadly all too familiar poor defending from a free-kick 11 minutes later meant a point a piece that helps neither sides’ ambitions.

Here are Dave Hunt-Jackson’s takeaways from the match.

NO CUTTING EDGE

 With Omar Bugiel on international duty the Dons needed to find other ways to score and for 90 seconds of this encounter it looked like the penny had dropped. The excellent Jack Currie found space down the left and his cross was neatly turned in for Kymani-Gordon to open his account.

Sadly this was as good as it got with the visitors mostly resorting to the aimless long balls that have largely failed to bear fruit all season, even when their Lebanese star is in the side. Lee Brown, in particular, appeared to be unfazed by Bugiel’s absence seemly trying to find him even in Australia. All too often, as for much of the season, the South Londoners gave possession back to Crewe or found themselves working the ball back to Alex Bass from promising positions.

In the remaining 88 minutes they failed to carve out another really clear-cut chance.

Until Wimbledon return to the quick passing game of the early part of the season it is hard to see how their fans will get to see Josh Kelly show why Craig Cope went back to his old employers to bring him in in January. He simply cannot be expected to compete in the air against defenders who are several inches taller than him.

SCHOOLBOY ERRORS CONTINUE TO COST POINTS

For 10 minutes after the opener Crewe looked shell shocked and Wimbledon should have put the game to bed or at least managed the lead they had.

Instead they handed an equaliser and all the initiative to their hosts with some truly woeful defending. Having conceded a free-kick close to the corner flag, the Dons allowed Crewe to pass to a totally unmarked Rio Adebisi, who took his time before crashing the ball into the net.

All season Wimbledon have looked fragile defending set-pieces and have largely failed to yield the returns they should have at the other end of the pitch. This was as bad a piece of defending as any and at this stage of the season with so much at stake was inexcusable.

If Wimbledon are to push on and actually pose a genuine promotion threat next term then they have got to iron out errors like this that beg the question as to what goes on on the training ground where set pieces are concerned.

CURRIE IS IMPERIOUS

From his debut and bar a short period when he was dropped after talking to Bristol City about a move in last season’s January window, Jack Currie has been outstanding.

He displaced Lee Brown, who has a decade more of experience and has made the left-back spot his own.

With Johnnie Jackson utilising three centre-halves Currie has more of a licence to go forward and aside from the assist for the goal he consistently caused problems as he marauded down the wing while still being able to ensure he carried out his defensive duties. It is hard to imagine that Wimbledon will be able to hang on to their homegrown starlet this summer with just a year’s option left on his contract – but displays like this will surely be adding to what should be a significant asking price.

GIVE SASU A RUN IN THE SIDE

Wimbledon have only once won three League games in a row all season and that was back at the start of October. They probably need to win five or all of their last six games if they are to climb back into the play-off places, given they have played more games than all the teams currently occupying them. It is time to have at least one eye on next year.

With their lack of potency up front and the need to solve this problem next season this is surely time to let Aaron Sasu have a run in the side to the end of the season. He could save AFC Wimbledon the need to find a transfer fee if he can show he is ready to play regularly next year.

Jackson speaks very highly of him and should now put his money where his mouth is, as quite apart from anything else Sasu looks far more dangerous than the options including the increasingly ineffective Josh Davison.

 There are really no good reasons not to let the youngster have a chance in the side especially as he has not been allowed to go out on loan such has been his form.

PICTURES: KYLE ANDREWS