Dons academy products hail leadership of Mark Robinson – “You want to run through brick walls for him”

BY KAI BENNETT

AFC Wimbledon duo Will Nightingale and Jack Rudoni have praised the leadership of head coach Mark Robinson.

The Dons beat Ipswich Town 3-0 on Tuesday evening at Plough Lane to move up to 19th spot in League One.

Nightingale and Rudoni are both academy graduates at Wimbledon and were on the scoresheet against the Tractor Boys.

It was Nightingale’s third goal for the Dons and he told the club’s website: “I want to be adding to my goal tally. It’s been a long time coming [scoring a goal]. I said to the set-piece coach and the boys, I can feel a goal coming. I fancy myself from set-pieces – so I have to start adding that to my game.

“I’ve had a couple of near misses and that’s what has been frustrating. It’s always been nearly [scored] and no-one remembers that. If there’s been one cleared off the line or one that has just gone wide, then no one remembers that.”

Rudoni also scored a headed goal in the win on Tuesday.

He said: ”I’ve seen Luke [O’Neill] pick it up and Luke’s delivery is on the money. I just remember taking a centre-back to the front post and then I peeled off him and it’s landed on my head. I headed it down and it went in, so I’m buzzing.

“Will and I have known Robbo for a long time throughout the academy. Going from the Accrington win and to get two wins on the bounce is something we haven’t done for a long time. Everyone’s buzzing with that. We now need to push on and keep getting wins until the end of the season.”

Nightingale added: “Like Rudi has said we’ve known Robbo a long time. He’s a likeable guy and he’s the sort of person you want to run through brick walls for. He’s been brilliant since he’s come in but again, we have to take game by game. We know there’s a job still to be done and we have so much potential, it’s scary really. It’s about living up to that and improving game on game.

“[Paul Kalambayi] was massive today. He was unbelievable. I have no worries about Paul at all, I’ve played with him in so many games and I know what he’s about and he can play at this level comfortably. He showed that, he was brilliant. Everyone has to play to the best of their ability and we have to go again next game.

Ollie Palmer and Ayoub Assal both scored braces against Accrington and Rudoni says having those players around him benefits him.

“They help with our attacking threat. If someone gets tired and needs to go off, we know we can bring players on and the intensity is going to be there.

“Ayoub’s come in, he’s young but he’s ready and he has goals and assists in him. Ollie’s come in and he’s experienced, strong and he links up well. That helps me having players around me that can get it into my feet and combine with them. You’ve seen that in the last few games with us getting five against Accrington and three tonight. Attacking wise, we are looking good right now and defensively we are also solid and it’s a great clean sheet.”

Swindon Town are next up on Saturday as the Dons can take another big step towards safety.

Nightingale said: ”We know how important it is to stay in this league and we’re more than good enough. We have a great opportunity to do that so everyone has got to raise their game to the best of their ability. We have to go again on Saturday.”

Rudoni added: “We have enough ability and mental strength to take on the pressure and we know every game is massive. Swindon’s another massive game and we’ll be up for it and [do our best] to get that win.”

PHOTOS: KEITH GILLARD