AFC Wimbledon centre-back Antony Howard put his nose on the line as his side beat Carshalton Athletic to go back to the top of the Ryman Premier Division table.

With injuries to central defenders Paul Lorraine, Lee Kersey and Steve Watson, Dons boss Dave Anderson reluctantly gave Howard a starting spot alongside Steve Butler at the heart of his defence for the 2-0 victory over the Robins on Tuesday night.

Howard is still recovering from an operation to reset his nose after breaking it against Tonbridge Angels in January but such is Anderson's defensive crisis that he rushed the defender back for the clash.

And Howard did not disappoint, putting in a towering performance as his side left with all three points, thanks to a deflected Roscoe D'Sane header and a stunning Steve Ferguson strike.

After the game Howard admitted he was relieved to have through the match unscathed.

"Thank God I got through it," he said.

"I knew if I took a bad one on it it would break again. It was just one of those games that everything I went up for came clean off the head and it wasn't too bad.

"I have to admit I was a little bit apprehensive before going into the game. After breaking your nose you don't want to go through it all again but after the first couple of headers I just forgot about and got on with the game.

"I was absolutely knackered at the end and I was feeling it in the legs a bit as well but overall it's not too bad."

Lorraine remains doubtful for Saturday's clash with Hendon leaving Anderson with only two fit central defenders - but Howard admits that, once Lorraine recovers from his ankle injury, the Dons boss will have a selection dilemma.

"Once Paul's fit we have three centre backs for two positions, but it's a nice problem for the manager to have. Now I've got through one game I think that I can be considered for the others from here.

"A lot of it with my nose is psychological but I'm through it now and I want to put my name into the hat for Saturday. But we are all playing well now so it's up to the gaffer to make the decision - but it's not a bad decision to have to make."