Talking points from AFC Wimbledon’s 2-2 draw with Newport – A blip or the start of a decline?
AFC Wimbledon blew a two-goal lead as their former Don Shane McLoughlin netted a penalty with the last kick of the game to grab an undeserved point for Newport County on Tuesday night.
Here are Dave Hunt-Jackson’s talking points from the 2-2 draw at Plough Lane.
TOTAL LACK OF COMPOSURE
Newport had offered almost no threat all night. Goals from Alistair Smith and Matty Stevens should have been enough but the South Londoners failed to build on their fast start and paid the price as they made it six home games without a win.
Once again, for much of the match, the Dons looked far from a side with promotion ambitions.
Manager Johnnie Jackson saw red at the end of a game where a number of decisions went against his Wimbledon side, including the ruling out of a third goal with no obvious infringement and no explanation offered by the officials.
In truth his lack of composure mirrored that of his players.
Wimbledon sat deeper and deeper, which was only ever going to bring one outcome.
Instead of putting the game out of sight there was an air of inevitability about Newport’s equaliser.
Having demanded a reaction to Saturday’s performance in the home FA Cup defeat by non league Dagenham, Jackson got 20 minutes of blood and thunder and then a low-key, uninspired performance for the rest of the game.
This result means the Dons have dropped out of the League Two play-off places and their form, especially at Plough Lane where they are winless in four games, does nothing to suggest they are likely to regain a top-seven spot.
DIFFERENT FACES BUT NO NEW IDEA
With Callum Maycock, Jake Reeves and James Ball all unavailable, Jackson turned to Josh Kelly for a rare appearance – but not as part of a three-man attack. Kelly played in midfield with the usual pairing of Omar Bugiel and Matty Stevens up front.
While there is no doubt the injuries to the midfield trio, and also Joe Lewis, forced the manager’s hand his refusal to adapt his formation to suit the players available was frustrating.
WRONG BENCH IMPACT
The Dons’ substitutions were simply a freshening of personnel – like-for-like changes that served only to help Newport back into the match.
Joe Pigott provided less of an outlet than Bugiel, but worse was the decision to make a change at left-back at the start of stoppage time.
Hus Biler has not had that much game time and when he has come on it has usually been to press forward. Here he came on for a side that were already defending too deep and he had no time to adapt to the pace of the game.
It was his challenge that was adjudged to be a foul and resulted in the penalty.
A BLIP OR START OF A DECLINE?
Only the away victories at Tranmere Rovers and Barrow have punctuated a month of otherwise very poor form and results.
All teams will have a dip in form and perhaps that is the case here, with injuries adding to their difficulties.
Recent history suggests otherwise however, with the last two seasons ending in runs of poor form and ultimately a question of what might have been.
Even with the current glut of injuries, games like this at home to a very one-dimensional Newport are ones you should be winning if you aspire towards promotion.
They have to be bold, adaptable and allow the squad players a chance to shine as otherwise by the time they are back to full strength another season could well be over.
PICTURE: KYLE ANDREWS