Shea aims to banish ideas of a new rival
NOBODY looks forward to playing their bogey side, but AFC Wimbledon’s James Shea believes it’s another golden opportunity for him to stop his manager from signing another goalkeeper.
The Dons travel to Oxford United for the early afternoon kick-off today probably wishing they were anywhere else.
The year of 1988 is etched in the fans’ memory banks after their club famously lifted the FA Cup, but it also represents the last time any Wimbledon side tasted success over the Yellows.
Out of their last 12 encounters, Oxford have won ten times and the other two games have been drawn.
It’s a grim head-to-head that the supporters from South West London can’t get their heads around.
Shea said: “Those records are there to be broken. It’s pretty simple from our point of view.
“Their good run against us has to end at some point, so why not Sunday?
“I don’t know why we’ve struggled so much against Oxford over the years.
“We’ve been in the same league for a fair few seasons now and we both went up last year. We’ve just not been able to beat them.
“You can’t put your finger on why, nobody knows.
“It’s going to happen sooner rather than later and, hopefully, Sunday will be the moment.”
The Checkatrade Trophy isn’t exactly universally popular, and it may be less so with Neal Ardley after picking up injuries to two key players in Tuesday’s 2-1 win over Plymouth. Midfielders Jake Reeves and Dean Parrett are touch-and-go for the game at the Kassam. Dannie Bulman, the former Oxford player, and Tom Beere will deputise should they not make it. It’s quite a contrast to the Dons’ forward line where the manager has four fully-fit and functioning strikers to select from. Lyle Taylor and Tyrone Barnett started and scored against Plymouth in midweek. Dom Poleon has six goals since the last day of August, but target man Tom Elliott is seen by some as the most important of the lot. “I wouldn’t like to be the manager!” Shea added. “They all bring something different and it’s a great problem to have.” The 25-year-old doesn’t want his boss to have to put in any more hours. Ardley admitted defeat over keeper Ryan Clarke, allowing the summer signing to leave for Eastleigh last month after an error-ridden first few months at Kingsmeadow.
Chance
That has opened the door to Shea, who surely must have thought his time at the club was coming to an end after loan signing Kelle Roos shone in goal last term. Shea had to sit and watch as Derby County’s Dutchman, 24, took the club to play-off glory.
He added: “My aim is to make sure the gaffer doesn’t go out and get another keeper. Since I got back in the team, I feel I’ve been getting back to how I was. I want to keep my place and Sunday is another chance to prove my worth.”