I’LL STAY BOSS’S FRIEND FOR LIFE
Striker says Ardley’s work brings out his best
IN NEAL Ardley, Lyle Taylor hasn’t just found a manager. He’s found a lifelong friend.
And that closeness is what’s helping the AFC Wimbledon striker make history.
London-born Taylor moved to Kingsmeadow from Scunthorpe in 2015 and his goal in the League Two play-off final against Plymouth at Wembley in 2016 helped fire the Dons into League One for the first time.
The 27-year-old forward made more history last month as he broke his 21game goal drought by netting Wimbledon’s first hat-trick since joining the EFL, against Rotherham.
Taylor says Ardley’s relentless work ethic since becoming boss back in 2012 is inspirational.
He is adamant his close relationship with the manager has brought the best out of him.
“The amount of work the gaffer and the staff put in is phenomenal,” he said. “Their passion for the job is crazy.
“The way I see it is there is no other manager that could have managed this club the way Neal Ardley has. I’ve got nothing but good things to say about what he and the staff have done for me.
“On a personal level, it’s the support they give you through tough times. For me, he has been massive.
“He’s a friend. Yes, he’s a manager, but whenever I leave Wimbledon he’ll always be someone I can talk to. Having that relationship with somebody who has been so influential on my career is massive.”
To have gone down in Dons history with his treble is a source of incredible pride for Taylor, who moved back to London following spells at Bournemouth, Falkirk, Sheffield United and Scunthorpe.
Impression
The striker certainly feels an affinity towards his latest club and is hopeful the history-making isn’t over just yet. He said: “It’s a unique club. You can look at us and where we are now and think ‘wow, it is some achievement’. “To be part of that and to be part of the history of the club forever is crazy. It’s made a massive impression on me. “I’m forever thankful for the opportunity the boss has given me and I’d like to think I’ve gone some way to repaying
that support and faith. “Some of the things we have achieved in the last couple of years are fantastic and, hopefully, we can stay in the division and continue to make history.” After surviving their first season in football’s third tier, the Dons have had to cope with the loss of two prolific front men over the summer when Tom Elliott moved to Millwall and Dominic Poleon made the switch to Bradford.
Elliott and Poleon combined for 26 goals last term and the Dons’ striking issues have been compounded by Kwesi Appiah’s hamstring injury, which has ruled him out since September.
Unsurprisingly, they were League One’s lowest scorers ahead of the weekend – also just two points above the relegation zone.
“It’s a case of taking the chances we get,” added Taylor. “I didn’t do that in the first few games of the season. And (fellow striker) Cody McDonald would say the same.
“I’m not sure whether that was good saves or we weren’t being clinical enough.
“My current form (six goals in eight games before yesterday) is pleasing, but it’s a case of keeping that going for the team.
“The job description of a centre-forward is to score. It’s as simple as that. It’s taking that burden and doing what you can with it.”