Dons look defensively sound…but now they must add goals to fire up League Two play-off prospects

BY EDMUND BRACK

AFC Wimbledon have finally emerged out of the other side of a run of games against teams gunning for automatic promotion and the League Two play-off places.

They held their own against the big hitters in the fourth tier, picking up draws in strong performances against Bradford and Carlisle while also securing a 1-0 win against top-seven chasing Stockport.

But Tuesday night’s attacking display in the stalemate at Northampton left the 383 fans who had made the journey north wondering whether the M&S Dine In for Two offer would have been a more substantial offering on Valentine’s Day than what was served up by Johnnie Jackson’s side.

Neither side created an abundance of clearcut chances at Sixfields Stadium to be able to claim they were deserving of all three points.

Northampton forced Nik Tzanev into action on a handful of occasions, with the New Zealander pulling off a stunning save to deny Jon Guthrie from close range after a free-kick from a wide position presented the centre-back with a chance to open the scoring.

The South Londoners only recorded two shots during the 90 minutes against Jon Brady’s side – Jack Currie’s first-half ricocheted effort was the closest Cobblers keeper Tom King had to come to breaking into a sweat.

In truth, the Dons have wilted in front of goal since the turn of the year. Jackson’s side have scored just two goals in their last 630 minutes of League Two football, registering 14 shots on target in the process.

There was a change in formation on Tuesday, with the ex-Charlton boss looking to conjure up an attacking formula which kept the solid base at the back.

Cambridge loanee Saikou Janneh started his first game since arriving in the January transfer window but was hauled off after 57th minutes after failing to complete a dribble.

Ali Al-Hamadi was reintroduced into the starting line-up after being dropped for the home game against Carlisle, but the Iraqi international does not appear to be a natural winger and could be better utilised through the middle.

Despite the tinker in tactics, there was still a lack of a creative spark to fashion chances for Josh Davison to snatch at – the former Swindon loanee recorded just two touches inside the Northampton penalty area.

Charlton loanee Diallang Jaiyesimi caused problems for the Northampton defence after he was subbed on. Leicester City youngster Kasey MacAteer also looked promising during his brief cameo on the pitch.

But the Dons had to settle for their seventh 0-0 draw of the League Two season – the most of any side in the top four divisions.

The gap to those top-seven spots has grown in recent weeks, with rivals Sutton, Doncaster and Stockport all collecting three points on Tuesday.

Wimbledon are seven points off the play-off places heading into tomorrow’s clash against relegation-threatened Hartlepool.

If they want any chance of getting their charge into League One back on track, Jackson has to capitalise on their heroics at the back and hatch a plan to solve their goalscoring woes.

STAR MAN
Nik Tzanev. His 13th clean sheet in League Two this season. The 26-year-old is just about to enter his prime and had adapted exceptionally to life in League Two.

BEST MOMENT
Jack Currie’s shot. The closest Wimbledon came to a goal.