Neal Ardley believes AFC Wimbledon are ahead of schedule regardless of success or failure in their Boxing Day visit to Southend United.
Dons were set an initial target of 52-53 points for survival by Ardley after achieving the sixth promotion in their 14-year history via the League Two playoff final last May.
Saturday’s 4-0 thrashing of Port Vale took them to 32 points ahead of the lunchtime clash with the Shrimpers which will bring the season to its halfway mark.
“I think we have already succeeded in where we need to be to get to our initial target of 52-53 points as we only need another 20-21, so we are ahead of schedule,” he said.
In pictures: AFC Wimbledon's promotion at Wembley (treat yourself - it's Christmas)
“Now we want to go hard and if we can get to 35 at the Southend game we know we are going to be close to something better.”
That something better would be a second playoff tilt in as many seasons, something which would have been regarded as highly unlikely when Dons lost their first three league fixtures back in August.
Ardley was reluctant to claim he knew all along they would be on the heels of the promotion race at Christmas, focusing instead on the qualities within his squad.
“I’m not going to be big-headed and say I totally believed this is where we would be at this point, but I do believe we have got some really good qualities for a football team,” he added
“We have got aggression in the box. There are not many centre-forwards who will put their head in wherever the ball is and our Tom (Elliott) is one, Hanson at Bradford is another.
“We’ve got Lyle Taylor’s movement and pace which is exceptional, same with Dom Poleon and Barchy (Andy Barcham) is as good a one-v-one dominator as I have seen.
“I don’t think anyone can match Reeves and Bulman for their energy in midfield and there’s experience at the back including pace in the full-back positions, so we have good qualities and when we play to our strengths we are a match for anyone.”
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