Fatigue no excuse for Ardley’s slow Dons
DESPITE travelling over 700 miles for two away games in the past week, AFC Wimbledon manager Neal Ardley refused to blame fatigue for his side looking ‘slow’ in their home defeat to Walsall.
The Saddlers secured back-to-back league victories for the first time this season despite a spirited Dons fightback after Jon Whitney’s side raced into an 2-0 lead after 31 minutes.
“Fatigue is not an excuse,” said Ardley, whose Dons beat Bristol Rovers last weekend and drew at Oldham in midweek. “They’re mentally weak if they say fatigue is an excuse.
“I said to the boys to start fast, go hard and see what was left in the tank at the end. Instead we started slowly and played slow football.
“The players should execute the gameplan. We didn’t do that for 20 minutes and that’s a lack of discipline. Anybody can have a go at 2-0 down.”
Erhun Oztumer opened the scoring with his ninth goal of the season on 15 minutes, superbly firing into the top corner after Dons keeper George Long’s miscued clearance fell to him 25 yards out.
The Saddlers doubled their advantage when Amadou Bakayoko slid to divert Zeli Ismail’s low cross of the far post and past the helpless Long.
Wimbledon, who started the game as League One’s jointlowest scorers at home, pulled a goal back before the break when leading scorer Lyle Taylor fired home after unselfish play by Cody McDonald.
McDonald almost levelled in the 44th minute but could only head at Saddlers goalkeeper Liam Roberts from Deji Oshilaja’s looped cross.
The hosts dominated the second half as Walsall left-back Luke Leahy almost knocked Andy Barcham’s cross into his own net before blocking Jon Meades’ goal-bound shot from the resulting corner.
“It took me to change the shape to get us back in game,” added Ardley. “After that they had a real go. We were good for an hour in the game, we could have scored four goals.”
Instead the visitors should have sealed victory in the 70th minute, but Kieron Morris overhit his through ball to Oztumer after breaking from a Dons corner.
“It was a mature performance from a young team,” said Saddlers boss Whitney. “You can take individual goals but it’s all about the team. There’s an enjoyment in this group. They’re growing in strength, both physically and mentally.
“We reacted well to their goal and we weathered the storm. We put bodies on the line.”