AFC Wimbledon boss Terry Brown concerned after another home defeat

AFC Wimbledon boss Terry Brown was concerned after his side handed Oxford United’s strikers two late Christmas presents, as the Oxfordshire team stole all three points in a Boxing Day cracker final of 0-2.

Despite a much improved second half performance, where the Dons should have had at least one penalty, the damage had already been done. Before half time, the goals from James Constable and Asa Hall gave Oxford a comfortable cushion that they would not lose.

“We’re giving teams two goal starts nearly every week and we’ve got a major problem scoring goals at the moment,” said a worried Brown after the game.

“I need to get a system that we are comfortable with and that we’re not continually changing at half time.

“I’ve got two things going on in my mind at the moment. One is to get points from the next two games (against high-flying Southend United and Swindon Town) which is not going to be easy, and then to try and bring someone in during the transfer window to help our lads. However I dress it up, we were a couple of forwards short today and we have to score some goals,” he added.

The first goal was a comedy of errors. Sammy Moore gave the ball away on the half way line, and while Lee Minshull managed to get a toe to Alfie Potter’s through ball, he only parried it into the feet of James Constable, who deftly turned the ball past Seb Brown.

A good finish by Constable, who kept up his 100 percent scoring record against the Dons, however Brown, will feel a little aggrieved by have been beaten at his near post.

Wimbledon improved and with three minutes to go before half time, had their best spell in the half. Mat Mitchell-King, the summer signing finally making his home debut at the heart of the Dons defence, had a shot deflected by the Oxford defence. 

He recovered to put in an expert tackle on the onrushing Peter Leven. Dons’ left-back Gareth Gwillim then tested the palms of Ryan Clarke with a rasping drive.

But, as so often happens to struggling teams, just as they were enjoying their best spell, disaster struck. An incisive Oxford breakaway led to a Damian Batt corner being headed in comfortably at the back post by Asa Hall, who had found himself in acres of space.

To be down 2-0 is always going to be a tough job to come back from for the low-scoring Wombles, but they should have had a golden opportunity early in the second period.

Rashid Yusseff was clearly scythed down in the box by Oxford captain Jake Wright, but the referee was disinterested.

AFC spent much of the second half having a variety of extra penalty shouts turned down, culminating in Dons' striker Jack Midson receiving a yellow card from ex-Premiership referee Andy D’Urso, who failed to endear himself to the Wimbledon faithful.

Along with the penalty shouts, AFC huffed and puffed to try and get a way back into the game. Yusseff had easily the best chance, beating Clarke from close range only to see his shot crash off the crossbar onto the line, and be cleared by the Oxford defence.

While the Dons have certainly improved, the combination of poor goals given away, and a lack of finishing up front is never going to be a great recipe in football.

Dons manager Terry Brown must be taking several nervous looks at the league table, with wins for Plymouth and Dagenham meaning that the gap to the bottom two is falling.

AFC Wimbledon: Brown, Hatton, Gwillim (Bush), Mitchell-King, Stuart, S Moore, L Moore, Yusseff, Minshull (Mulley), Midson, Jackson (Wellard).

Attendance: 4,547

My Man of the Match: Mat Mitchell-King

*Adam Harwood is a contributor for Bleacher Report. Unless otherwise stated, all quotes are sourced first hand*