MAGNIFICENT PIG HOGS LIMELIGHT
AFC Wimbledon manager Wally Downes hailed matchwinner Joe Pigott as magnificent after seeing his side continue their revival with a win at fellow strugglers Southend United.
Pigott bagged the only goal of the game on his return to Roots Hall, as the Dons moved off the foot of the League One table with a third successive win.
And Downes, who has taken Wimbledon up to 22nd in the standings, was quick to praise Pigott’s impact on the game.
“Joe has been magnificent in the last six or seven weeks and he got his rewards for battling today,” he said.
“He’s led the line really well lately and got another win.
“But we’ve got four clean sheets in a row and that speaks for itself too.
“I’m very pleased and, at this stage, it’s about winning games, not how you play. It was about who made the best use of the wind and we were better in the second half.”
Pigott played a pivotal part in the Shrimpers winning promotion from League Two back in 2015, scoring an injury-time equaliser in the play-off final against Wycombe Wanderers at Wembley.
But the striker returned to haunt the Shrimpers as he fired home his 13th goal of the season to decide an uneventful encounter played in blustery conditions.
Southend went closest to scoring in the first half with Michael Turner having a header tipped over by Aaron Ramsdale.
However, Dons had the better of the second half and made sure of the win in the 67th minute when Pigott capitalised on a defensive mix up between Turner and goalkeeper Mark Oxley to fire home.
The Shrimpers never looked like hitting back and have now gone 10 games without a win.
The slump in form has taken Southend to 20th in the standings and only goal difference is keeping them above the relegation zone.
But Southend manager Chris Powell has vowed to keep fighting.
“I’ll always have belief in myself and I understand the position I’m in,” said Powell.
“I don’t want the club to be where we’re at but we are where we are.
“I’ll look at myself, the group and be as positive as we can.
“I understand the business and why the fans won’t be happy but I’m not one to shy away from it.
“I can see, if we get through this period, what is here long term and what we can be.
“But it’s about the here and now and we need to address it ASAP. “I’m up for the fight though and it’s my job. I’m here to get the team through the good times and the bad.”