AFC WimbledonSport

Wally Downes believes “gutsy” Dons can still produce a Great Escape

BY RICHARD CAWLEY

Wally Downes says his belief has never wavered that AFC Wimbledon can beat the drop.

Tuesday night’s dramatic 4-3 win at Rochdale leaves the Dons five points adrift of safety.

But Wimbledon, at home to Charlton tomorrow, still have all of the other sides in the drop-zone to play.

The Dons are still 24th in the League One standings but have won twice on the road in succession.

It is their home form which is more of an issue – the 4-2 FA Cup success over West Ham is their only win at the Cherry Red Records Stadium since Boxing Day, pocketing one point from a possible 12.

Downes said: “I’ve had belief they can do it for a long time, because of how gutsy they are.

“Since I’ve been here we have had some very difficult games. Now we have got games coming up against teams around us and that is going to define our season.”

Pigott scored his first senior hat-trick to move on to 11 goals for the campaign, also ending a month without netting.

“If we get balls in dangerous areas enough and move centre-halves enough then Joe can lose his marker and score,” said Downes. “It is about us putting the ball in the danger area as often as we can for him.

“The win was terrific. We went all the way to the wire. Sometimes you get an away draw and it is great for morale, but we’re in a situation where draws aren’t going to be great for us. We’ve got to win, and the appetite to win was there for us.”

Photo by Sean Gosling

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