THEY FIGHT, THEY BICKER THESE DONS ARE FAMILY!

Crazy Gang spirit is alive and well says hero Taylor

THE Wimbledon squad is not too dissimilar from most families up and down the country – they like a squabble now and then – but Lyle Taylor insists their brothers-in-arms spirit is the reason why they’re heading to Wembley.

No other team shares a bond with their fans in quite the same way the Wombles do after being forced to rise from the ashes in the wake of Pete Winkelman relocating the club to Milton Keynes in 2003. The Crazy Gang is alive and well. And, though the bitterness will never be swept away completely, Wimbledon are now just one game away from their sixth promotion in 13 years – and the chance to get back on level footing with MK Dons in League One next year.

Brilliant

“This group of boys is a family. It’s unbelievable.We fight, we argue we bicker and then we hug, kiss and make up,” said a jubilant Taylor.

“To a man, the staff, the fans, the ones who played and the ones who didn’t, the ones who were injured, we were phenomenal.

“If you saw the attitude around the hotel the night before and on the morning of the match, it was so positive and it was brilliant to be a part of.

“When the fans came on to the pitch at the end, you just know it means so much to them.

“For us, as a group of players, to be able to provide that is massive.”

Taylor is one of the main reasons why Wimbledon are heading for a showdown with Plymouth on May 30 after proving a sensation since being snapped up from Scunthorpe.

The 26-year-old’s extra-time goal on Wednesday was the most important of his 21 so far this season, although he was quick to tip his hat to Jake Reeves.

The midfielder did his best Lionel Messi impression in weaving through Accrington’s defence.

And, when his shot was saved, Taylor pounced on the rebound to equalise on the night but grab a 3-2 lead on aggregate. “It’s a feeling I don’t think I can describe, but the credit for me has to go to Reevesy’s run – it was something else,” Taylor admitted.

“He’s chipped it over one, nutmegged another, shifted him out of the way and he’s been so unlucky not to score.

“It’s just popped up to me and I did my job.

“I completely lost it, to be honest. I just didn’t see our fans at that moment – I went straight over to the bench and they went absolutely mental.

“It’s a pleasure to be able to say we’re going to Wembley.”

Wimbledon have not just leaned on Taylor during the play-offs, however.

Substitute Tom Beere supplied the injury-time winner in the first leg and was on the bench again in Accrington, as was Adebayo Akinfenwa before his header got the Dons back on track.

Testament

It bodes well for Wembley – and veteran defender Paul Robinson should know.

He scored the only of the game when Millwall were promoted to the Championship via the play-offs in 2010.

“B (Akinfenwa) has been frightening these last few games and I’m really pleased for him to get his goal,” said 34-year-old Robinson.

“And Tom Beere coming on Saturday. You never know who’s going to pop up and play his part.

“That’s testament to Neal Ardley, the job he’s done here and the squad he’s built. It’s another step forward in the journey of this fantastic club.

“Once we got to work and were settled in the first few months, I think we realised we were capable of promotion, but perhaps it took until after Christmas for it to click into gear for us.

“We’ve been dogged and determined, and now we have a fantastic reward in the trip Wembley – but the real prize is promotion.”