Four takeaways from AFC Wimbledon’s goalless draw at Grimsby – Some promising debuts but room for improvement

AFC Wimbledon started the 2023-2024 where they ended the previous one at Grimsby’s Blundell Park due, albeit with only 5 of the 22 players that started in May retaining their places. 

The side shared an uninspired draw that can perhaps be forgiven with so many new faces settling into the two teams. 

Wimbledon will probably be the more satisfied of the two sides, given how rare points and clean sheets have become since January, but they will rue the penalty miss from Ali-Hamidi that cost them the chance of just their third win in 2023. They had new ‘keeper Alex Bass to thank for several fine saves at the other end.

Here are Dave Hunt-Jackson’s takeaways from Blundell Park:

NEW ERA? WHAT NEW ERA?

The club has spent most of the summer desperately trying to airbrush last season out of the minds of the supporters, an impressive 494 of whom were present on Saturday. 

No matter how often they used the phrase “new era”, the fact is that, on the face of it, not much has changed. 

Yes, there are 10 new signings and eight new faces, with Jake Reeves and Armani Little returning from Stevenage and Forest Green, respectively, but the manager and his staff are the same – the chairman and Dons Trust Board are the same too. 

Off the pitch, there are a number of very long overdue new sponsors with signs that the corporate department will be delivering far more to the club’s coffers than it has to date. 

On the pitch, the team looks refreshed, but some things do not appear to have improved. 

Unforgivably the Dons went into the first game of the campaign without a fit left back. 

Indeed they only have three fit senior centre-halves, plus Ethan Sutcliffe, with one of them, Ryan Johnson, having to fill in on the left. Given the blame attached to last year’s lengthy “injury crisis”, this is very worrying, and many fans will be wondering why so many midfielders have arrived and so few defenders.

The other worry is that aside from Al-Hamadi, who was only on the bench due to his injury from last year, the substitutes were either unused or ineffective.

Josh Neufville had barely touched the ball for the first 80 minutes, and not much afterwards, and yet, Johnnie Jackson made only one other change, bringing on Harry Pell for Omar Bugiel. 

As last season there was no plan B, and once Grimsby thwarted Al-Hamadi with their offside trap, the visitors carried no threat.

It’s too early to be over-critical or draw too many conclusions, but there was little to demonstrate any greater tactic awareness than last season.

A NEW CAPTAIN

Barry Fuller was the Dons captain when Jake Reeves last played for them, and not since Fuller have the Dons had that level of leadership on the pitch. 

Reeves was the obvious choice to replace Alex Woodyard in the role and he did not disappoint. 

He is still the all-action midfielder that left for Bradford six years ago, but he doesn’t just lead by example, constantly instructing and encouraging throughout the 90 minutes.

Indeed the South Londoners did look more organised than they had for some months and produced a better display than they had managed since January, albeit that is a very low bar. 

Much of the credit for this must go to their new captain, and his on-field management of the team will be invaluable if Wimbledon are to correct their woeful record from winning positions that blighted them for most of last term.

SOME PROMISING DEBUTS

Despite all the new players arguably the stand-out performance was from a more familiar face. 

Armani Little celebrated making his stay in South London permanent with a man-of-the-match performance. Along with Reeves, Little bossed the centre of midfield and gave the Dons control of the midfield for much of the game.

Behind them, Alex Bass looked assured and confident making several important saves as Grimsby were restricted to shooting from range his distribution was good too and the early signs are that at least in the goalkeeping department, the Dons are stronger this term. 

Joe Lewis made an impressive bow and looked solid in partnership with Alex Pearce, and Ryan Johnson did nothing wrong despite playing out of position.

James Tilley showed some nice touches, but neither he nor Josh Neufville were able to influence the game significantly. However, they have both shown enough in pre-season to suggest there is much more to come.

Omar Bugiel had an excellent first outing and confirmed that he is going to be a handful, winning the lion’s share of his aerial battles. It’s very early, but Bugiel and Al Hamadi may prove to be Wimbledon’s most effective front pairing.

CONSIDERABLE ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT

Johnnie Jackson talked of progress in his post-match interview, and this was a better display than for a considerable while, although this is in the context of the dreadful displays of the last half of last season. 

That said, it absolutely had to be and it was relatively modest progress with much more needed. 

Wrexham visit The Cherry Red Records Stadium on Saturday, smarting from an opening day defeat. The bookies’ pre-season favourites will likely provide a sterner test than Grimsby. 

One way or another, AFC Wimbledon need a fit left-back available by then. With Paul Kalambayi still injured and injury-prone, Alex Pearce at an age where injuries are more likely and harder to shrug off, and Ethan Sutcliff untested at this level, at least one more centre-half looks a must too.

It is to be hoped there is the budget available for this given that a number of the midfielders signed in this window may spend a lot of time warming the bench.

All in all, there is some justification for some cautious optimism, but new era or no new era, it’s two wins in 2023 and 15 points from 72 and counting, so there is no room whatsoever for complacency if this season is to prove significantly better than last. 

Best Moment: Alex Bass’s fingertip save to deny Abo Eisa and secure Wimbledon’s clean sheet.

Star Man: Armani Little: His best, most dominant display, matching his skipper both for skill and work rate.