Talking points from AFC Wimbledon’s 3-2 defeat at Port Vale – Dons must improve away form to achieve promotion

AFC Wimbledon’s poor away form continued as top-of-the-table Port Vale came out on top in a five-goal thriller at Vale Park.

Two early goals for Brandon Cover and Rico Richards gave the hosts a comfortable half-time lead. 

When Jayden Stockley responded almost immediately to John Neufville’s goal for the South Londoners in the 62nd minute, the game was as good as over. 

Despite a grandstand finish after Myles Hippolyte pulled another back and then hit the bar in injury time, the damage had already been done. 

Here are Dave Hunt-Jackson’s talking points from the game:

A TACTICAL NIGHTMARE

Port Vale play with three fairly slow centre-halves, and logic should have dictated that they would be vulnerable to being attacked with pace as they were on the rare occasions Wimbledon ran at them, such as when Matty Stevens struck the inside of the post in the first half.

Route one was never going to work but there was no route two in an attempt to throw a different game plan at Darren Moore’s side. 

Things did improve when Josh Kelly was introduced and went three on three with the home defence but by then the Dons were 3-1 down and there were less than 20 minutes left.

AWAY FORM HAS TO IMPROVE

Wimbledon have lost their last three away league matches and have picked up just four points on the road. While they have an impressive 100 per cent record at Plough Lane, three of their five wins have come against the bottom four.

Impressive as they have been at home, they will not achieve their aim of promotion unless they can gather greater rewards on their travels.

Much of the problem is their predictability. At home to the likes of Morecambe and Carlisle, that may not matter as they might know what’s coming but lack the ability to deal with it.

Away against the better sides, they have been out thought in their last three away defeats.

A RESILIANT DISPLAY THAT PERHAPS DESERVED MORE

Notwithstanding the tactical issues and some very ordinary defending for the Port Vale goals, this was a performance full of character. To be two goals down inside a quarter of an hour against the league leaders calls for resilience and guts, and AFC Wimbledon showed those qualities in abundance.

Whereas in the past they might have wilted and taken a hammering, the class of 2024-25 are made of sterner stuff.

Wimbledon were the better side for the last 75 minutes and twice responded to going two goals behind. Once they finally got going, they gave the Valiants a real scare and if Hippolyte’s shot had been an inch lower they would have grabbed a share of the points.

Yes, the squad is the strongest Jackson has had at his disposal but he must still take plenty of credit for the obvious team spirit he has engendered in this year’s players and that was very much in evidence on Saturday.

Team spirit, however, can only take you so far and if the Dons are to reach League One they need to start outsmarting their opponents. Make no mistake the players are good enough but too many more tactical missteps and a third consecutive season of under achievements awaits.

BALL IS A REVELATION

Last season, James Ball struggled to establish himself in a team where Jake Reeves and Armani Little were preferred to him when fit.

Despite Reeves’ current injury, it has been at the heart of a three-man central defence that Ball has excelled. 

The Dons have an embarrassment of riches at the back, but such have been Ball’s displays whoever he has partnered it is hard to imagine how he can be left out.

It seems that Ryan Johnson and Riley Harbottle may now be fighting for the third berth alongside Ball and Joe Lewis.

That said, with his confidence sky high it may be Callum Maycock and Alistair Smith who should be looking over their shoulders should Ball return to his normal role in midfield.

PICTURES: SEAN GOSLING