Self-destructive tendencies punish AFC Wimbledon in defeat at MK

BY EDMUND BRACK

In a game that is fuelled by passion and hatred, AFC Wimbledon delivered their worst first-half performance of the season as they were downed 3-1 by Milton Keynes.

The hosts killed off Tuesday’s game in a 12-minute spell where the Dons absolutely capitulated.

Johnnie Jackson’s side went behind in the 10th minute when Huseyin Biler was skipped past by Joe Tomlinson. He drilled a cross across the face of goal for Dan Kemp to steer a shot beyond Alex Bass.

Wimbledon’s evening went from bad to worse when Ryan Johnson – one of the most consistent performers of the season – turned Alex Gilbey’s loop over the top for Max Dean over the onrushing Bass and into his own net.

The Dons’ shell-shocked start was amplified after it became clear that Johnson’s involvement in his own goal saw him suffer an ankle injury and he was replaced by Paul Kalambayi.

Rash challenges started to follow, with Wimbledon unable to deal with attack after attack from Mike Williamson’s side.

Armani Little gave away a free-kick following two tackles in quick succession. The resulting deadball situation led to Milton Keynes adding their third in the 22nd minute.

Charlton loanee Jack Payne’s quick thinking from a free-kick saw the midfielder roll the ball to Ethan Robson, who floated a cross into the area for an unmarked Warren O’Hora to head home.

Wimbledon’s first real sight of goal came in the 34th minute when Josh Davison gathered the ball on the edge of the box and shuffled it along to James Ball. The midfielder found James Tilley, but the former Crawley player could only shift the ball on to his right foot and the opportunity was snuffed out by a Milton Keynes defender.

The Dons finished the half the better of the two sides and finally started to settle into the game.

Josh Davison latched on to Bass’ punt downfield and fired a shot into the body of the outstretched Aston Villa loanee Filip Marschall.

Wimbledon really should have capitalised on their first real swing of momentum in the contest when Aron Sasu, who had been the main catalyst of the attacking intent in the first half, drove down the left and jinked between two defenders inside the area.

The 18-year-old – playing in his first game of this magnitude for Wimbledon – cut the ball back to Tilley just in front of goal, and the ex-Brighton youngster skied his effort high and wide in front of goal.

Jackson made changes to attempt to get back into the game in the second half, with Crystal Palace loanee John-Kymani Gordon coming on for his debut.

The former Cambridge and Carlisle loanee looked bright on his first start and tried to press from the front – an aspect which has been sorely missed with Omar Bugiel and Ali Al-Hamadi away on international duty at the Asia Cup.

It was a pressing movement that saw Wimbledon get themselves on the scoresheet. Little pounced on a poor goal-kick routine from the hosts to slot past Marschall.

But all hope of a miraculous comeback was dashed when Biler was unable to deal with a high ball and dragged down striker Max Dean, who was a nuisance for the Wimbledon defence throughout.

Biler was the last defender and referee Sunny Sukhvir Gill brandished a red card.

This forced Jackson to take off Sasu, who was Wimbledon’s most dangerous outlet, and bring on Isaac Ogundere at the back.

Things went from horrendous to horrific when Paul Kalambayi was sent off eight minutes later after being adjudged to have brought Dean down after he escaped the Wimbledon defence.

The Dons now head into tomorrow’s game against Mansfield winless in their last four League Two outings and needing to close the four-point gap to seventh-placed Notts County in the play-off chase.

STAR MAN
Arun Sasu. Showed real promise and was consistent with his attacking display.

BEST MOMENT
Full time.

PICTURES:PA