POWERFUL FORSS FINDS FINN-ISH!
MARCUS FORSS put club before country to fire a stunning hat-trick as AFC Wimbledon swept past Southend – and he was duly hailed by caretaker boss Glyn Hodges.
Forss turned down the chance to team up with Finland’s under-21s this week and performed a one-man demolition job on the sorry Shrimpers, with defender Ryan Delaney also getting in on the act, Timothee Dieng earlier reducing the deficit.
And Hodges was thrilled the on-loan Brentford forward opted to stay put.
“Marcus was called up, but he asked me if I wanted him to stay and I’m delighted he did,” said Hodges.
“He can see the value in playing at this level and he scored a hat-trick to keep his good run going.
“He wanted to stay and he scores all types of goals. If you give him a chance you always expect him to hit the target and he’s done that.”
Forss – who has now scored six goals in his last five goals – bagged a brace inside the opening 11 minutes.
And Hodges felt the quick start was key to Dons’ first away win of the season.
“We had a quick start and backed it up,” said Hodges. “We went 2-0 up, but we didn’t see it through and caused ourselves some problems.
“We got a bit nervous, but we calmed it down at halftime and we went about it really well after that.”
Forss took just five minutes to open the scoring at Roots Hall as he fired home a deflected right-foot shot from 12 tards.
Six minutes later, the Flying Finn scored his second as he netted from close range following a goalmouth scramble.
Southend replied instantly with Dieng heading home Nathan Ralph’s cross, but the hosts were unable to find an equaliser during their best spell of the game.
Wimbledon hit back after the break and made it 3-1 in the 52nd minute, with Forss slamming home a penalty after Rob Kiernan had brought down Ryan Delaney.
The Dons remained on top and extended their lead in the 72nd minute, with Delaney heading home Max Sanders’ left-wing corner.
And that made it another frustrating afternoon for Shrimpers’ caretaker boss Gary Waddock. He said: “It was a poor start to the first half and the second as well, but it’s been a common theme.
“It gives you a mountain to climb and we had to climb a lot of mountains today.
“It was always going to be very difficult for us after that start and the goals we concede are sloppy.”
Henrik Larsson and Sol Campbell remain in the running to be Southend’s next boss. But Waddock is unsure what the future will hold. he added: “The chairman put a statement out and whatever comes of that we’ll see this week.”