Neal Ardley doesn’t want to sound like a stuck record but the AFC Wimbledon manager was worried he’s starting to after last night’s frustrating draw with Northampton Town.
The Dons squandered more than their fair share of chances at Kingsmeadow but once again lacked the finishing touch to leave them wondering how they’d gathered just one point instead of three.
It is becoming a familiar feeling for Wimbledon, who came away from Luton with nothing on Saturday despite a battling performance, and Ardley wants to kick the habit sooner rather than later.
“I don’t want to sound like an old record, making excuses, but we haven’t got the points total we should have,” Ardley told Dons Player. “That’s for us to try and correct.
“If we’d have defended our set pieces well all season, we’d be in the top three. If we’d taken all of our chances throughout the season, we’d have a healthy goal difference.
“I cannot make any excuses, but all I can say is that we are trying. We are doing our best and I think we have the makings of a decent team. We attack well and we can be exciting, but it is not getting us results at the moment.”
Ardley only made one enforced change to his team as Cardiff City loanee Semi Ajayi, who arrived at the club earlier in the day as a replacement for the injured Will Nightingale, came in at the back.
Things seemed to be going to plan in the early stages and it came as no surprise when Ade Azeez made the net bulge after a lapse in concentration from Cobblers defender Zander Diamond.
However, Northampton drew level before half time with what was their first clear sight of goal. David Buchanan’s cross was nodded in by John-Joe O’Toole and it was all square.
Big striker Bayo Akinfenwa was forced off through injury on the stroke of the interval and had to be replaced by Lyle Taylor as he made his return from a three-match suspension.
Wimbledon’s best chance to win it fell to the former Scunthorpe frontman after a wonderful pick out from Jake Reeves, but Northampton keeper Adam Smith did well and the points were shared.
Christian Toonga was an unused substitute on the Dons bench having finally being granted international clearance, with Ardley keen to stress the decision to name him in the squad was not a token gesture.
“Christian Toonga is a fantastic talent,” explained the Wimbledon boss. “Every day in training he stands out. He’s training with first-team players and at times it looks like he was made to play at a higher level.
“It’s been a difficult time for him because he was one of our best players in pre-season and he’s been showing that in training but he couldn’t get games.
“Christian Toonga is a very, very good player who has got a bright future.”
The 1-1 stalemate means Northampton drop two places in the League Two table to 10th while Wimbledon fall one place to 16th.
The Dons return to action at Kingsmeadow on Saturday when Barnet are the visitors.
