Wycombe Wanderers 0-1 AFC Wimbledon

AFC Wimbledon manager Neal Ardley heralded his side’s gritty performance as they booked themselves a place in the FA Cup third round with a 1-0 victory at Wycombe Wanderers.

Sean Rigg stabbed home the only goal of the game just before the hour mark, his fourth goal of the season, as the away side prevailed in a scrappy encounter at Adams Park on Sunday.

Rigg’s goal came from excellent build up play between George Francomb and Adebayo Akinfenwa and the former, who was being deployed slightly further up field in a forward three, coolly prodded past Matt Ingram to secure the win.

The Dons’ boss felt that his players reciprocated their manager’s efforts throughout the week to install a winning mentality before a match in a competition the club has real pedigree in.

Ardley said: “If I got paid by the minute that I think about my job I would be a millionaire.

“I can’t tell you how hard we have worked this week. Every training session has been at such an unbelievably high intensity. The game was the easy part.”

The Dons were worthy winners and exacted an element of revenge against his old friend Gareth Ainsworth after the Chairboys comfortably won the league fixture at Adams Park 2-0 in October.

Ardley felt that the hosts failed to get a hold of a change in tactics as he moved Rigg further forward to create a 4-3-3 formation, allowing the likes of Francomb to express themselves more in midfield.

Winner: Sean Rigg celebrates after scoring

“I think they might have been a bit surprised by that,” added the 42-year-old.

“We said at half time that it was on for a midfielder to break into the spaces. That’s cup football, you take risks.”

Ardley and can now look forward to Monday’s third round draw and he admits the FA Cup is proving a welcome distraction for his side, who find themselves languishing in 16th in the League Two table.

The Dons’ boss said: “I hope and pray that the club get the draw they deserve. It’s absolutely huge to have something to look forward to in January with a tough set of December fixtures.”

“I hope they get the glamour tie and they get something that not only brings a bit of attention to the club, but also brings in some finances that they could do with.”

Dons: Shea, Fuller, Goodman, Barrett, Kennedy (Harrison, 89), Francomb (Pell, 77), Moore, Bulman, Rigg (Azeez, 77), Tubbs, Akinfenwa,

Subs not used: Bennett, Oakley, McDonnell. Sutherland