AFC Wimbledon boss Neal Ardley admits he’s looking down the table rather than up despite today’s win over Walsall.
Lyle Taylor’s second goal in as many games gave Dons a deserved three points against the in-form Saddlers.
Ardley’s first thought was a first league win in seven had brought his side vital breathing space in the quest to avoid being sucked into the League One relegation scrap.
“There are two things I look for at the moment,” he said. “The first is the distance between us and fourth from bottom and then how many teams can we keep between us and that position because they can’t all keep winning.
“You know the teams down the bottom will be scrapping. We were in that position ourselves a few years ago and the table always turns on its head late on, so it is vital you keep that distance.”
Taylor’s strike midway through the second half was reward for the home side’s persistence in attempting to break down the defensive-minded visitors .
It wasn’t the prettiest goal, but Ardley knows it was a vital one to stop the rot – especially ahead of trips this coming week to title chasers Scunthorpe and Bolton.
“You try not to have those games (at Scunthorpe and Bolton) in the back of your mind, but they are,” he added.
“Today it was going to be tough because they play a three which becomes very much like a five at the back with a sitting midfielder screening and then they try and break on you.
“At a time when confidence is low you have to try and work hard to break that down with a game-plan that you don’t get caught on the break as well.
“The boys did it brilliantly and we pinned them in at times.
“Then that moment you look for is a bit scrappy, but it was a good finish.
“Lyle has mishit the first one – he’ll tell you it’s a dummy but it has worked in our favour.”
