View from Kingsmeadow, Volume 28: Redemption Against York

Terry Brown's AFC Wimbledon had only one game this week, against York City. They looked to avenge an embarrassing 4-1 blowout defeat at the Bootham Crescent earlier this month.

"We are looking forward to Saturday's game against York City," Brown said. "We have two players back and available for selection; Luke Moore will come in to the squad alongside Ismail Yakubu. I am also pleased that the three England C internationals returned fit and well, if a little bit tired, from their win against Belgium on Wednesday night.

"Having watched the game at Luton on Wednesday, I thought all three of our boys acquitted themselves very well and I know, having talked to them this morning, they are looking forward to representing England in the final later on this year against the winner of the Portugal and Italy semi-final."

For Brown, it was a straightforward affair against the Minstermen.

"There shouldn't be any need to give any of our players a team talk prior to the York game," Brown said, "as I would expect the players to be well motivated by our previous encounter last week.

"York's mixture of strength up front and quality in midfield will ensure a very close game tomorrow. The players have had a relatively easy week as we gear ourselves to start what will hopefully be a new run of wins that we would require to stay in the fight for the league championship,"

The Dons manager looked forward to the important games that mattered, starting on Saturday.

"The business end of the season is well and truly upon us now," Brown said. "and I am pleased to say that we go into the last fifteen games with only one major injury concern, Lee Minshull. Our other major worry, Kirk Hudson, has responded well to his injection. We hope to have Kirk back for training on Monday while Lee is now running again and we are hopeful of a return to full training for Lee in a couple of weeks."

Most of the first team was healthy heading into the match.

"With several first team players now returning from injury," said Brown, "we felt it would be a good time to let Ricky Wellard start some games so we have agreed to give him a month's loan to Cambridge United, where he will be available to play in seven games in his time there, including against Newport County and Grimsby, starting with three games in his first week, including a televised game next Friday against Kidderminster.

"On the loan front, Jon Main has renewed his loan period at Dartford for another month and while we have had lots of interest in Mark Nwokeji and Ed Harris, we are biding our time before agreeing any additional loans."

Sam Hatton's 20th minute goal was all the Dons needed to score a 1-0 victory over York. The win keeps AFC Wimbledon in first with 64 points, but second-place Crawley Town has several games in hand.

Next Saturday, the Dons will hit the road to face Tamworth F.C. Kickoff at the Lamb Ground is scheduled for Feb. 19 at 10:00 a.m. ET.