‘Wounded animal’ – Crewe boss Bell cautious of Dons ahead of Saturday’s clash

Crewe Alexandra boss Lee Bell admitted that AFC Wimbledon are a “wounded animal” ahead of Saturday’s clash at the Mornflake Stadium.

The Dons’ 10-game unbeaten run in League Two came to an end on New Year’s Day after a 2-1 defeat away to Sutton United.

Johnnie Jackson was without Ayoub Assal, who missed out through illness, for Sunday’s outing at Gander Green Lane.

Crewe beat Tranmere 1-0 last time out but had suffered defeats three defeats on the bounce in League Two prior to the win against Micky Mellon’s side.

Jackson revealed after the game against Sutton that the Dons are set to find out this week whether Kyle Hudlin will be recalled by Huddersfield.

The two sides played out a 1-1 draw at Plough Lane in October.

“They went on a good spell, didn’t they?” Bell told the press ahead of Wimbledon’s visit on 

“I was impressed with them when we played them away. I thought they were a good team – the second youngest in the division behind us.

“They’re full of energy, good players and they were missing one or two on the weekend, which probably didn’t help them.

“They have got a good balance. They can play counter-attacking [football] with the pace they have in the team. They have got the big man up there who they can work off.

“They can handle the ball and have some technical players. The run that they went on shot them up towards the top half of the table.

“[They’re a] wounded animal, but we’re a wounded animal because of the defeats that have gone. We want to continue where we’re going.”