Four takeaways from AFC Wimbledon’s 1-0 over Stockport County – Core values remain in the squad as ex-Millwall skipper Pearce and Forest Green loanee Little impress
AFC Wimbledon moved up to 10th in League Two – three points off the play-off spots – after their 1-0 win over Stockport County on Saturday.
Harry Pell’s 49th-minute header was the difference as Johnnie Jackson’s side picked up their first win of 2023.
Here are Edmund Brack’s four takeaways from Plough Lane:
A BATTLING PERFORMANCE WHICH HIGHLIGHTS THE CORE VALUES OF THE SQUAD
To lose all four loan signings – two of which were crucial members of your starting 11 and 10-game unbeaten run before the start of the new year – was a shock to the system.
But when you add the departure of Ayoub Assal to the equation, it only makes AFC Wimbledon’s performance on Saturday more noteworthy.
After the first 45 minutes, which can only be described as carnage, with a handful of confrontations breaking out and the referee James Oldham losing control of the game, Harry Pell gave the Dons the lead.
Huseyin Biler sent a pinpoint cross into the path of the unmarked Pell, and he planted a header beyond Ben Hinchliffe to break the deadlock.
The remaining 41 minutes plus stoppage time showed there are core values ingrained in this side no matter who starts.
The Dons defended valiantly, Josh Davison could have run a marathon with the amount of hunting down he did, and Armani Little and Huseyin Biler did not shy away from a tackle.
Johnnie Jackson’s side are just three points off the play-offs. Winning a battle against a side who are hotly-tipped to be in the mix for those play-off spots, those three points could be the biggest so far of AFC Wimbledon’s season, given the context of the amount of change throughout the side in recent weeks.
A FLAWLESS FULL DEBUT FROM ARMANI LITTLE
Many expected the 25-year-old to be a creative option who would play behind Josh Davison once his loan signing from Forest Green was announced.
However, Armani Little delivered a flawless display against Stockport County on Saturday from a deeper midfield role.
The former Torquay man started alongside Alex Woodyard and helped break up a congested midfield.
He won five tackles – a match-high – made three clearances and the most touches [68] of any AFC Wimbledon player.
ALEX PEARCE & HUSEYIN BILER – ROCKS AT THE BACK
When Ryley Towler was pulled from his loan spell with the Dons and sold by Bristol City to Portsmouth, many feared that the defensive solidity which had developed over that 10-game unbeaten run would vanish.
But ex-Millwall skipper Pearce has slotted in alongside Paul Kalambyi and, if anything, has made the Wimbledon defence even more resolute.
The 34-year-old made nine clearances – a match-high – and was not dribbled past once by the Stockport attack.
Wimbledon have kept three clean sheets on the bounce since Pearce came back into the side.
As for Biler, the 20-year-old goes from strength to strength every week.
He continues to show why he is keeping a vastly experienced defender in Chris Gunter on the bench with displays that offer so much to the team.
Not only did Biler set up Pell for the match-winner, but he also made seven tackles and two blocks. He came close to scoring his first goal for the club, too, driving forward, chopping the ball onto his left foot and curling an effort just inches wide of the post.
Once the January window closes on Tuesday, the full focus should be on locking down Biler for the foreseeable future.
SIGNINGS LOOK SHREWD – MAYBE ONE OR TWO MORE COULD HELP CLOSE THE GAP
Armani Little seriously impressed on his full-league debut, and Ali-Al Hamadi looks a shrewd signing.
Saikou Janneh also brought something different to the team once he was introduced in the 70th minute.
The Cambridge loanee won three tackles to relieve pressure from the Wimbledon defence in the dying minutes of the game.
But with just five points separating 15th and fifth in the League Two table, there could be a temptation with two days left of the January window to further strengthen the squad with the money received from Ayoub Assal’s departure and bolster Jackson’s squad for a real promotion push.
PICTURES: LUCY DIXON