Five takeaways from AFC Wimbledon’s 1-0 loss at Cambridge United

BY LAURENCE LOWNE

With Sponge Bob Square Pants amongst the 922 AFC Wimbledon supporters adding colour to proceedings, head coach Mark Robinson sent out his injury-hit side to do battle at Cambridge United with one bright spot on the horizon – and that was the return to the squad of fit again striker Ollie Palmer after injury at the Emirates in the EFL Cup against Arsenal.

Cambridge came into the match having failed to win in eight games, while Wimbledon had won once in nine matches.

Here are Laurence Lowne’s five takeaways from the match.

BOTH SIDES CAME CLOSE TO SCORING BUT LACK CUTTING EDGE IN FIRST-HALF STALEMATE

First up from a corner, Cambridge United defender George Williams will scratch his head in amazement as to how his free header from a corner whistled past the post, when it looked easier to find the back of the net. A goal then might have perked up the game and opened it up into a more exciting affair. Instead we had to wait until more or less the final minute of the half for the best opportunity.

Wimbledon’s Jack Rudoni rose unmarked sending his header arrowing towards the corner of the goal, but on-loan Ipswich keeper Tomas Holy flung himself with arm outstretched to paw the ball away. A tremendous save.

A goal then, going into half time, would have been just the tonic for Wimbledon after they had dominated the final 10 minutes, which also saw a Luke McCormick cross shot blocked.

SLOW START DAMAGES BEST-LAID PLANS AT START OF SECOND HALF

Just like Plymouth Argyle at home, lack of concentration immediately after half-time proved costly, and a left-wing cross was only partially cleared, which fell nicely for Jensen Weir to record his first ever senior goal for Cambridge with a header from the edge of the 18 yard box.

That came within two minutes of the restart, and Wimbledon then had 43 minutes – plus added time – to rectify the score, but it was not to be.

An ad-hoc team meeting on the pitch in the 70th minute, led by captain Alex Woodyard and substitute Ollie Palmer, galvanised Wimbledon into seeking an equaliser.

GILT-EDGED OPPORTUNITY SAVED

It was Rudoni again, who this time found himself free and unmarked within the six yard box on the end of a delightful free-kick. All he had to do was head downwards and either side of the keeper, but Holy was equal to the challenge and grasped the ball cleanly.

Twice Rudoni had been thwarted by the keeper, once in each half. Those saves would prove costly.

OLLIE’S RETURN

Having the experienced striker Palmer back in attack not only adds a dimension to the team but, as he proved last season, he is able to bring other players into the action by holding up the ball. It’s something that Aaron Pressley is still learning, but achieving more and more.

His cameo against Cambridge saw Palmer willing to run with the ball and take on defenders – it pulled them out of shape creating space for others to run onto.

Nesta Guinness-Walker put in a number of excellent second half crosses having been set free by Palmer and Rudoni.

The team looked far more balanced with Palmer leading the line and he ruffled the defenders every time he got the ball.

CUP ACTION BECKONS

Now with a break from league action, Guiseley come visiting in the FA Cup followed by Sutton United away in the EFL Trophy – this gives Robinson time to refocus his charges, and with the likelihood of Cheltenham being postponed due to international call ups, the next league game will not be until Saturday November 20 – away to Portsmouth.