Wimbledon's problems continue after home defeat (From Your Local Guardian)

Wimbledon's problems continue after home defeat

2:11pm Monday 26th December 2011 in AFC Wimbledon By Graham Moody

AFC Wimbledon’s winless league run stretched to 10 games as they were easily beaten 2-0 by Oxford United at Kingsmeadow.

The Dons were lacklustre throughout and lacked a creative spark up front but will point to two penalty decisions that went against them which, if they had been given, could have changed the outcome.

But , ultimately, Oxford were deserved winners and Terry Brown is still searching for an answer to their goalscoring problems which now sees them three games without a goal.

Wimbledon failed to get going in a first half Oxford controlled against a Dons side that looked nervous and low on confidence.

They were defending well but Tom Craddock had already blazed over when well placed before Oxford took the lead on 19 minutes.

The tricky Alfie Potter weaved his way through three challenges and found James Constable free in the box to shoot beyond Seb Brown.

Sammy Moore tried to give the Dons some impetus but his shot was straight at United keeper Ryan Clarke and Mat Mitchel-King then saw a shot blocked.

The home side were enjoying the best period of the first as it came to an end but were made to pay for their lack of creativity as Oxford doubled their lead in simple fashion.

Peter Levon’s corner reached Asa Hall at the back post and he didn’t even have to jump to head into the net.

Terry Brown reacted at half time as he replaced the ineffectual Ryan Jackson with Ricky Wellard and moved Rashid Yussuff from the left wing into the middle of the park.

Yussuff’s move inside gave the Dons some much needed drive in the middle of the park and he should have had a penalty when he went down in the box but referee Any D’Urso waved play on.

Yussuff then had Wimbledon’s best chance as Wellard’s ball found him in the box but his shot crashed off the underside of the bar and out again.

That, really was as good as it got for Terry Brown’s men – though they should have had another penalty when Jack Midson appeared to be clipped by Liam Davis but was instead booked for diving.

At the other end, Brown superbly stopped Constable’s deflected effort, Craddock shot wide and Tomlin headed over an open goal .

It was not the performance Terry Brown had called for from his side and his problems at Kingsmeadow go on.