Four takeaways from AFC Wimbledon’s 1-0 defeat at Leyton Orient – The squad is stronger after the January window but the Dons will be left to sweat over right-back’s injury
AFC Wimbledon suffered defeat on the road at top of the table Leyton Orient on Saturday afternoon.
The Dons were downed in the second half after George Moncur broke into the penalty area and drilled a shot into the bottom right-hand corner.
Here are Edmund Brack’s takeaways from Brisbane Road:
A MISSED OPPORTUNITY
When the full-time whistle was blown, Johnnie Jackson perhaps looked back at the chances his AFC Wimbledon side created and wondered if they missed the opportunity to do the double over the League Two table-toppers.
League Two matches are attritional battles. The first 45 in east London was by no means a pretty sight, but when Ali-Al Hamadi had the ball swept out towards him by Armani Little, it created Wimbledon’s clearest sight of goal so far.
The Iraqi drove towards Rob Hunt and forced Lawrence Vigouroux into spilling the effort across the face of goal.
If Josh Davison gambles the other side of Theo Archibald, the forward has a tap-in to send the Dons in 1-0 up at half time.
Orient were vulnerable, considering this is a side missing one of their best players this season – Paul Smyth – and having lost their last two outings in League Two.
And AFC Wimbledon’s gameplan could have been perfectly executed in the second half when Davison’s chipped pass landed at the feet of Ethan Chislett, who had escaped the grasp of Tom James and had just Vigeroux to beat.
Time appeared to come to a stop as Chislett shifted his body to curl the shot into the top right-hand corner. But the South African – who has been a revelation this season for the Dons – got his angles all wrong and sent the ball way over the bar.
Orient scored 10 minutes later and saw out the game to get back to winning ways.
The South Londoners once again showed they’re a match for sides in this division, but a lack of composure in the final third cost Jackson’s side.
HOW DO YOU GET GOALS OUT OF THE SIDE?
Despite being resolute at the back and having one of the best defences in League Two, the Dons have only scored once in their last four outings.
Josh Davison is doing everything right. The 23-year-old completed three key passes, nearly recorded one assist, won two aerial battles and continuously chased the ball down cul-de-sacs.
Ali-Al Hamadi has some excellent qualities – a real burst of space and a determination to keep hold of the ball when surrounded by opposition defenders – and to secure his services on a permanent transfer looks like a shrewd piece of business.
Ethan Chislett has shown how dangerous he can be in League Two and Diallang Jaiyesimi and Saikou Janneh have exciting attributes which can provide attacking contributions.
There are plenty of goals in this side – and the Dons have been denied obvious goalscoring opportunities in recent weeks thanks to dubious refereeing decisions – but the new attacking rhythm needs time to gel.
You wonder whether the 4-2-3-1, which has been the backbone of Wimbledon’s 10-game unbeaten run and their climb back up towards the League Two play-off places, could be abandoned for a new system which suits the players available now.
IS THE SQUAD STRONGER AFTER JANUARY?
If you said before January that the Dons would lose all four of their loanees – with three being key members of the side – and Ayoub Assal have his release clause triggered, and nothing could be done about it, you would have feared for AFC Wimbledon’s squad.
However, at the end of the window, with the options Jackson has at his disposal, it could be argued that the side is stronger heading into the business end of the season.
At Gander Green Lane on the 1st, Jackson had to ponder whether to throw youngsters David Fisher and Alifie Bendle on to try and change the outcome.
At Brisbane Road on Saturday, Jackson had the ability to call upon known quantities in Jaiyesimi and Janneh – forwards with league experience who can impact the game. Jackson had to leave out new signings Kasey McAteer and Sam Pearson due to the size and strength of his squad.
HOPEFULLY, BILER IS NOT LONG TERM
The result aside, Wimbledon would have left east London hoping that the injury that Huseyin Biler sustained in the 33rd minute was not serious.
Jackson confirmed after the match that the right-back was withdrawn due to a possible hamstring injury.
It’s invaluable what the 20-year-old offers to the side, with not only his defensive output but his attacking contributions, too, becoming key assets to the side.
Chris Gunter, 33, is a dependable defender with vast experience, but he can’t venture forward like Biler.