ARD READY TO DON A CHEF’S HAT
AFC Wimbledon manager Neal Ardley joked he could turn his attentions to cooking Christmas dinner after a win over in-form Bradford.
The Dons were without a home win since mid-October going into the game, while the Bantams were chasing a club record-equalling five consecutive away league wins on the bounce.
Yet Ardley’s side deservedly claimed victory, thanks to goals from forwards Cody McDonald and Lyle Taylor – albeit with the help of two errors from City stopper Rouven Sattelmaier – and assistance from the woodwork.
“At the moment all I'm worried about is making the home-made gravy for my Christmas dinner,” Ardley joked. “It's my main job every year!
“But this is a good start to the Christmas period. We’re in a really good league against a number of really good teams. We have to be at our maximum to beat a lot of teams and that was us at our best.”
McDonald capitalised on a defensive mix-up between defender Adam Thompson and Sattelmaier to poke in from 15 yards.
“My first thought is that Rouven should have come for the ball, but I’ll have to have a look at his starting position again,” said City boss Stuart McCall.
In a precursor of things to come, Bradford defender Matthew Kilgallon hit the bar with a thumping header from Tony McMahon's corner on 15 minutes as the visitors searched for an equaliser.
However, without three excellent saves from Sattelmaier to deny McDonald, Taylor and Andy Barcham from close range the Dons could have been out of sight at halftime.
“The only criticism I can level at my team is that we did not put the game to bed with the amount of chances we had,” added Ardley.
McCall sent his players out early for the second half and it took 100 seconds for them to equalise.
Striker Paul Taylor fired home from close range following an impressive break led by Alex Gilliead.
But just as City appeared to be getting on top, Sattelmaier fumbled Taylor’s speculative 25-yard strike to give the striker his tenth of the season.
McCall said: “It didn’t swerve much from where I was. I haven’t spoken to Rouven yet but it was a huge turning point. We all make mistakes; the goal gave them something to hold on to.” Further proof that it wasn’t to be the Bantams’ day came when Nicky Law’s low shot rebounded off the post 14 minutes from time, before Thompson’s thunderous half-volley in the 98th minute hit the other side of the goal frame. “No team can give away the goals that we’ve given them and expect to win,” added McCall. “We’ve gifted them two goals and that makes it difficult.”