DOWNES ON THE UP BUT IT’S ONE CRAZY RELEGATION FIGHT
It IS more than an hour after the final whistle at Kingsmeadow and in the manager’s office a crate of beer is already halfway to being finished when Accrington’s John Coleman joins Wally Downes of Wimbledon for a catch-up.
‘Wake me up when the season’s over,’ Coleman says, smiling.
After all, it has been some ride for both these teams, who are caught in a relegation battle. Accrington were fourth in the table earlier in the season, and Wimbledon have rarely been away from the drop zone — a 4-2 win over West Ham in the FA Cup their obvious highlight.
Both clubs are in a group that stretches from 13th to 23rd and is separated by six points. that explains why there was so much at stake when these two met on Saturday.
Victory for Wimbledon would have been their fifth in six games and could have moved them up to 17th from 22nd. For Accrington, here was a chance to break a three-game losing streak and rise four places from 18th.
Back in November, Wimbledon were ragged and had run out of ideas under Neal Ardley, who was sacked after six years as manager. Downes, the leader of Wimbledon’s Crazy Gang in the 1980s, took over in December with the club 23rd and seven points from safety.
In his first 20 league games in charge, Downes amassed 28 points — double the number from the first 20 of the season. ‘It’s a fine job you’ve done, Wally,’ remarks Accrington chairman Andy Holt.
Wimbledon play with an intensity that can catch opposition sides cold early in matches. Joe Pigott put them in front on 21 minutes after Steve Seddon’s cross wasn’t cleared.
Pigott’s 11th goal of the season temporarily lifted them to 18th and sent Accrington down to 20th. But there is a doggedness to Coleman’s Accrington. For a side operating on a tiny budget compared with Sunderland and Barnsley, they plan carefully and try to exploit other teams’ weaknesses.
Jordan Clark did that when he intercepted Paul Kalambayi’s poor back- pass and finished past Wimbledon goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale. At that stage, based on scores elsewhere, Accrington were 19th and Wimbledon in 23rd.
Accrington could have won the game had Billy Kee not dragged his penalty wide before half-time.
‘ Funnily enough my assistant Jimmy Bell had the table up when we were talking the penalty and he said, “Look at this… we’ll jump up if he scores this”,’ Coleman adds. ‘ It’s those fine margins people talk about.’
In total, only six teams — Scunthorpe, Shrewsbury, Southend, Accrington, Wimbledon and yesterday Bristol Rovers — from 13th place and below earned a point. the rest all lost, including Bradford who are bottom and six points adrift. they play Wimbledon on the final day of the season.
Accrington have the benefit of a game in hand against Rochdale, who are 23rd after a late and agonising 2-1 defeat against Sunderland, at home tomorrow night. Win and they could go 14th but lose and they would remain just two points above the relegation zone.
‘It’s like there are a billion different things that could happen,’ says Downes. ‘It’s mad. But for us to be back in our spiritual home as a League One club would be fantastic and we want to do it for the fans.’