POINT MADE
Neil given hint of tough job at Sunderland
ALEX NEIL got an idea of the task in front of him as his new Sunderland side worked hard to earn a point away to struggling AFC Wimbledon.
Barely 24 hours after Neil (right) took over as manager, he left Plough Lane having seen Sunderland end a three-match losing run, although they still dropped points as they look to push on in their promotion bid.
Luke McCormick gave Wimbledon the lead from the penalty spot before Alex Pritchard equalised with a brilliant free-kick.
“I’m certainly impressed by the attitude of the players, so I don’t think that is in question,” Neil said.
“We need to get more work into them to be better than we were today. We did 40 minutes on Friday and I talked to them before the game, and that is a lot of information going into them.
“We have a gap between experienced players who have come in but not had many minutes, and some young lads who are in their first season and look a bit tired.
“But we don’t have a lot of options with selection right now.”
Sunderland began well, but apart from a few crosses into the area, they were unable to create a clear-cut chance and it was Wimbledon who took the lead through a disputed penalty after 20 minutes.
Lee Brown took a quick throw to Jack Rudoni, but his attempted cross was blocked by the arms of
Callum Doyle and McCormick tucked away the penalty. The home side went close again four minutes later, when a corner found its way to Sam Cosgrove, whose goal-bound shot was brilliantly clawed away by Anthony Patterson.
But Sunderland were level in the 35th minute, as Pritchard floated a free-kick from 25 yards over the wall and into the corner of the Wimbledon net.
The second half became messy, with referee Simon Mather handing out 13 cards. Wimbledon looked more likely to force a winner.
Ayoub Assal had an effort pushed away by Patterson, although at the other end Jay Matete fired over as he stretched to get on the end of Dennis Cirkin’s cross.
In the 90th minute, the home side were reduced to 10 men when penalty ace McCormick received a second yellow card for a wild lunge.
Wimbledon head coach Mark Robinson said: “We are a bright, young, exciting side, playing against a big club and, if they continue to show that endeavour, the points will come.”
AFC WIMBLEDON: Tzanev 6; Osew 8, Heneghan 6, Nightingale 7, Brown 6; Marsh 7, McCormick 6; Rudoni 7, Chislett 6 (Hartigan 76), Assal 6; Cosgrove 6 (Cosgrave 79).
Broome, Alexander, Mebude, Kalambayi, Tomas
Patterson 8; Hume 6, Wright 7, Doyle 6, Cirkin 6; Winchester 6 (Evans 62); Clarke 5 (Defoe 62, 5), Matete 7, Neil 6, Pritchard 8; Stewart 5 (Roberts 73, 5).
Carney, Dajaku, Embleton, Xhemajli.
Alex Pritchard. Wonderful free-kick for Sunderland’s goal lit up a physical encounter.
Simon Mather 5.