Its been a few weeks since I've seen the Dons, whose form has slumped. It is really a whole new ball game for management,volunteers and spectators. For nine years there has been a relentless surge upwards from CCL to League 2, now we appear to have hit the wall. After boxing day's game the Dons have taken only 3 out of the last 30 points. Early season optimistism has been replaced with either stark realism or calls for changes in personnel.
There are still plenty who realise that League 2 midtable is where we should be, survival in the division is enough. However the quality of performance has suffered and there is a feeling that at the near mid point of the season , we have been found out.
The next couple of weeks, with the opening of the transfer window should reveal a good deal about the Club:
Dons lose again !
AFC Wimbledon 0 Oxford United 2
npower league 2
by Paul Jeater
There was little Christmas cheer at Kingsmeadow on Boxing Day as AFC Wimbledon slumped to another defeat in front of Sky cameras and a near capacity crowd. The Dons defence gift wrapped two first half chances that the visitors, Oxford United, gratefully accepted. In the second half the Dons attempted to get back in the game but were largely thwarted by the performance of referee Andy D’Urso, who accepted the role of pantomime villain with relish turning down numerous penalty appeals, helping the visitors to leave with three points.
After a fairly even opening spell, Oxford took the lead in the 18thminute , the influential Alfie Potter collected possession from the long clearance, as he weaved his way through the Dons midfield, Lee Minshull and Jamie Stuart attempted to tackle, but their combined effort only sent the ball into the path of Oxford striker, James Constable, who shot with precision low past Seb Brown to open the scoring.
The Dons conceded again just before half time. From a corner poor marking and defensive organisation allowed Oxford’s Asa Hall an uncontested header at the far post. As the teams left the field the Dons players looked as if they had a mountain to climb.
Manager Terry Brown introduced Ricky Wellard and altered the shape of his team, and this had immediate effect when Rashid Yussuff drove into the penalty area only to be upended. To the astonishment of most of those in attendance, the referee who was well placed , turned away penalty appeals. Yussuff’s lack of luck continued when he saw a shot cannon off the crossbar and ricochet to safety.
The Dons to their credit continued to press for the goal that would get them back in the game. Lone striker Jack Midson fell under a challenge in the penalty area as he and his marker came together, while Dons fans optimistically called for a penalty, the referee brandished a yellow card, leaving the hard working Midson to shake his head in bewilderment. Late substitutions made no impact for the Dons in a game where the effort was obvious but confidence and craft appeared to be in short supply.
AFC Wimbledon’s early season form that propelled them towards the play off places is but a distant memory. Three points out of the last thirty has marooned them in the league’s lower reaches, and the focus is now on the form of those below them rather than worrying about who is competing for honours. With two difficult games against high flyers Southend and Swindon on the horizon, fans can only hope that manager Terry Brown is able to do some shopping in the January sales to reinforce the squad and stop the slide.
Dons : Brown 6, Hatton 4, Gwillim 5 (Bush 89),Moore 6,Stuart 5, Mitchel-King 6,Minshull 4 ( Mulley 89),Yussuff 6,Midson 6, Moore 5 , Jackson 4 (Wellard 46, 5)
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