Sports Gazette

The sports magazine brought to you by the next generation of sport writers

AFC Wimbledon 0-1 Rochdale: Danny Lloyd strike inflicts another defeat on Johnnie Jackson’s Dons

It seemed to be a case of a false dawn for AFC Wimbledon as they fell to a narrow 1-0 defeat at the hands of bottom side Rochdale in League Two on Saturday – as a cloud of gloom fell on Plough Lane once again following what had looked like an uplifting 2-0 win over Walsall in midweek.

Danny Lloyd scored the only goal of the game in the 64th minute to give Jim McNulty all three points in his first game as Rochdale’s caretaker manager as Wimbledon’s late efforts to salvage a point ended in vain.

Johnnie Jackson’s Wimbledon had ended a wretched 12-game winless run in their previous outing when they defeated Walsall 2-0 with goals from Will Nightingale and substitute Ali Al-Hamadi, who scored five minutes into his second-half introduction following international duty with Iraq.

On the other hand, Rochdale came into the fixture on the back of a 2-0 defeat to Crawley Town last week – a result that saw the club finally sack Jim Bentley and appoint 38-year-old centre-back McNulty as the interim manager with the Dale bottom of the standings.

The visitors hogged possession early at Plough Lane on Saturday, but it was Wimbledon midfielder Armani Little who had the first clear chance when he stole the ball and fired over from the edge of the box in the 17th minute.

Three minutes later, 38-year-old Ian Henderson, wearing the No. 40 shirt, almost found the breakthrough at the other end, but failed to turn in a cross at the far post. Owen Dodgson then fired over from distance following a short corner in the 28th minute as Rochdale grew into the game.

However, it was the Dons who ended the first period strongly as Nightingale headed a corner straight at Dale keeper Richard O’Donnell at the half-hour mark. Eight minutes later, the Rochdale goalkeeper once again had little trouble to collect Ethan Chislett’s effort as the half ended goalless.

Wimbledon boss Jackson made a double change two minutes before the hour mark as 21-year-old Al-Hamadi came on to a warm reception from the home supporters to replace Saikou Janneh while another youngster Sam Pearson was introduced in place of Kasey McAteer.

But it was McNulty’s side who found the opener in the 64th minute when 31-year-old Lloyd fired into the bottom corner to silence the 7,000 plus Wimbledon supporters at Plough Lane.

The Dons tried to find their way back with Chislett heading wide from a promising position in the 67th minute before the two substitutes almost combined for an equaliser when Al-Hamadi failed to reach Pearson’s ball across the goal the very next minute.

The game ended with a flurry of chances for Wimbledon. They came close to finding a breakthrough when Isaac Ogundere’s shot was comfortably claimed by Rochdale custodian O’Donnell and Alfie Bendle’s effort was deflected wide in added time.

The win will come as a huge fillip for Rochdale in their relegation battle as they move four points behind second-from-bottom Hartlepool United while Wimbledon remain in 16th place.

Author

  • Adwaidh Rajan

    Adwaidh Rajan is a journalist with more than 10 years of experience covering sports. He has written for Indian newspapers The Times of India and The New Indian Express as well as websites like ESPN and FOX Sports Asia.

    View all posts