Four takeaways from AFC Wimbledon’s 4-0 loss at Bolton – understrength midfield struggles and it’s time for plan B

AFC Wimbledon produced an abject display at the University of Bolton Stadium on Saturday as they were thumped 4-0 by Bolton Wanderers. Despite having a number of key players missing there was really no excuse for what was a gutless display by the South London side.

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

WIMBLEDON LACK STRENGTH IN DEPTH

It’s hardly a revelation but AFC Wimbledon were always going to struggle with almost their entire first-choice midfield missing. Suspensions to Luke McCormick and Ayoub Assal and injuries to Anthony Hartigan, Alex Woodyard and Jack Rudoni meant that head coach Mark Robinson only had the reliable George Marsh available from the players who have regularly started this season.

Nesta Guinness-Walker, Ethan Chislett and Dapo Mebude were the three players selected behind Sam Cosgrove and they looked exactly what they were, a makeshift, second string midfield. In a side that relies on pressing the opposition and springing forward quickly the trio were individually and collectively too slow and Mebude in particular often seemed reluctant to break into even a trot. On this showing – and with two six-pointers in the next seven days – the Dons can’t get their missing players back soon enough.

THE DONS NEED TO REGROUP – AND QUICKLY

Notwithstanding the suspensions and injuries this was a woeful performance from AFC Wimbledon and one that leaves them in real danger of relegation yet again. Bolton were, at best, very ordinary and yet they created chance after chance and held Wimbledon’s attackers at bay with ease. The scoreline did not flatter the Lancastrians and can only have dented their visitors already fragile confidence. Robinson and his staff are going to have their work cut out to lift their charges for the crucial games at Gillingham tomorrow and when they host Doncaster next Saturday.

IT’S TIME FOR PLAN B

Sam Cosgrove continues to plough a lone furrow up front for the Dons and his skill and work rate as he builds to full match fitness were perhaps the one positive from this utterly forgettable display. What is clear for all to see is that he desperately needs support and with two crucial games against fellow strugglers Robinson must surely now play two up front. With Assal suspended on Tuesday and with all three points a must, Cosgrove should be given a strike partner with either Aaron Cosgrave or Terry Ablade asked to play along side him. All too often Cosgrove had the ball in good positions but with no one to offer support Bolton could simply crowd him out. Wimbledon have to find a way to win their next two games and on Saturday’s showing it will clearly need more than lumping hopeful balls to an unsupported loan target man to do it.

A WORRYING LACK OF CHARACTER

Wimbledon fans are fickle, like all football fans, but are on the whole more forgiving than most. One thing they do rightly demand however is wholehearted commitment from their team and today it was completely lacking. This performance was as far as it could be from the famous Crazy Gang spirit and that will have hurt the away fans who braved horrendous weather conditions only to watch the Dons capitulate. Having travelled north fearing the game might be postponed they will no doubt have returned to the capital wishing it had been.