“We’ve got to be the team that puts a run together”

Johnnie on mounting a surge for the play-offs

16 February 2024

Home advantage could be the decisive factor in our push for a play-off place as we prepare to entertain Morecambe tomorrow, the side directly below us in the table.

Johnnie Jackson spoke about looking to maintain our recent excellent form at the Cherry Red Records Stadium over the next two and a half months, after our final training session today.

“It’s so tight,” said Johnnie. “We’re one point outside the play-off places and only four points separate Notts County in the last place down to Newport County in 14th.

“It’s going to be the team that puts a run together that’s going to get in the play-offs, so we’ve got to be that team. We’ve got to try to have a bit more of that consistency about us. We are in decent form, we had a little setback in midweek, but I think we’re playing well and picking up points regularly. That’s what we’ve got to keep trying to do.

“If we can put three or four wins together, we could find ourselves amongst it. That’s what we must aim to do. Every team around it is going to be saying the same thing, including tomorrow’s opponents, so it’s important we get it right and we get it right soon.”

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However, there’s been no place like home for the Dons and that special atmosphere created by our supporters on a match day at Plough Lane.

“We’ve loved being there recently,” said Johnnie. “Our form has been really good, certainly of late. We’ve won six out of the last seven, which is strong form, but we need to carry it on.

“I think nine of our last 15 games are at home, so we’ve got more at home than we have away. We need to make that count. If we can carry that on and be hard to beat, first and foremost, then I think that will give us a good chance.

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“I’ve seen a lot of Morecambe recently and they’ve been one of the form teams in the division, regardless of where they are – they’re in and around us. It’s an important game as far as that’s concerned, and we won’t be taking them lightly at all. They’re a very good side.”

Johnnie has no fresh injury concerns ahead of the game. Centre-backs Ryan Johnson and Joe Lewis remain sidelined, but skipper Jake Reeves and forward Josh Neufville could return next week.

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Johnnie said: “Everyone came away from the Accrington game okay, tired with the exertions we put in and the travel, but they’ve recovered really well and are desperate to be involved on Saturday.

“Perhaps we’ll look at next Tuesday or the following Saturday to get the skipper back involved.

“Jake has been dipping in and out of training over the last couple of days, so the game will probably come too soon for him tomorrow. He feels good though and the temptation is to sling him back in, what with the kind of character he is, but at the same time I don’t want to lose him for any longer.

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“Josh is a little bit further behind, but not far. They’ve done a lot of their rehab together, so I think we’ll start dipping him in and out of training next week.

“We want him back and hopefully that can be for the trip to Doncaster next weekend. We’ve just got be careful with him, but he’s progressing really well.”

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Main photo: Pro Sports Images.

Match Reports

Points shared as Dons pegged back

All square at the Cherry Red Records Stadium

17 February 2024

The Dons were made to settle for a point on Saturday afternoon as Morecambe fought back for a 1-1 draw.

It was another dominant home display from Wimbledon, with a well worked Omar Bugiel opener seemingly putting us on course to get back to winning ways.

Nevertheless it was the visitors who would have the final moment of the match, with Chris Stokes bundling home for a point that came largely against the run of play.

There will undoubtedly be frustration amongst those in yellow and blue however we’re still well in the race for the play-offs as things took another twist.

Johnnie Jackson made one change to the side which started against Accrington Stanley in midweek, as Ronan Curtis replaced John-Kymani Gordon, who dropped to the bench.

Wimbledon started with a spring in their step and had an opening inside five minutes, as Jack Currie sliced an effort well off target after breaking free from a corner.

Both full-backs were getting well into the game early on, with Isaac Ogundere showing good anticipation and drive to not only win the ball back but also get us up the pitch.

Then came a brilliant passage of play as Josh Kelly was found in behind, his first tough was sublime, allowing for a cross to be delivered for James Tilley to head into the hands of Archie Mair. Curtis then repeated the trick but Tilley could only head off target.

Armani Little – wearing the captain’s armband again in the absence of Jake Reeves – continued to dictate the tempo in the centre of the park, picking up space between the lines and playing some excellent cross-field balls. He almost had a goal to show for his efforts too as he sent a volley spinning wide of the far post.

It was a promising first-half but the task would be to back it up with all important goals in the second 45 minutes.

And it was a task we took too almost immediately as we took the lead. Curtis put in a dangerous low ball, with Kelly flicking into the path of Bugiel who couldn’t miss from inside the penalty area.

The pressure of the Plough Lane crowd was building on the Morecambe backline, almost willing the ball into the net with the atmosphere created by our fans.

Currie sped down the left-hand side and presented Bugiel with the opportunity to double his tally, however the Lebanese international could only fire straight at Mair.

We were quickly punished for not taking our chance as the Shrimps levelled through Stokes, tucking home unmarked from close range.

It was anyone’s game heading into the final 10 minutes, with both sides pushing for a result that could potentially take them into the play-off spots.

A plethora of changes saw Josh Davison, John-Kymani Gordon, Harry Pell, John-Joe O’Toole and Ryan McLean enter the field for the closing stages but we couldn’t quite find that final chance to turn one point into three.

AFC Wimbledon: Alex Bass, Lee Brown (Ryan McLean), Kofi Balmer, James Tilley, Josh Kelly (Josh Davison), Armani Little, James Ball (John-Joe O’Toole), Omar Bugiel (Harry Pell), Ronan Curtis (John-Kymani Gordon), Jack Currie, Isaac Ogundere

Attendance: 7,715 (212 away)

PICS: Ian Stephen (Pro Sports Images)