The Lounge

[Ken the Womble]

What a result!!!! I thought a draw would be a great – and we’re above the unmentionables. It more than makes up for Perth Glory going in 3-0 at the break and only getting a draw. Maybe the optimism shown by NA at the beginning of the season was justified after all.

[Colum]

This won’t get much mention in the media, but today surely has to be THE most historic date in the history of AFC Wimbledon to date. Remember 9th October 2016, as this could well prove to be a quiz question in years to come. “What date did AFC Wimbledon overtake the Franchise in the football league?”

The club will play the significance down, but make no mistake, for true fans like us, this is a major milestone. And to do it in such style against a bogey club as well. Well played lads. Now if you can only do the same on 10 December.

[Singapore Don]

What a day. 3-1 win against a bogey team we had hitherto failed to beat in the league, and critically another key moment in the history of our club. To have started again in the ninth tier, and now to be above the franchise imposters…well, it’s just incredible. An emotional milestone. It’s moments like this that make this neverending tale of defying the odds all the more remarkable. Tenth in League One, above the franchise, and the return to Plough Lane looking all but unstoppable: these are truly great days to be a Dons fan. What a club, what a story.

[martindownunderdon]

What a win,to be honest with the way Oxford have been playing the most I was hoping for was a draw. Then to be above that xxxx team just made my day.

Ken the womble what part of Perth are you ?

[onyadon]

That was a significant victory for the Dons to finally beat Oxford United at the 13th try – that will give their confidence a boost in what is shaping as a promising first season in L1. So far AFCW have beaten Charlton and now Oxford on the road and draws at Northampton, Rochdale and Coventry. By any measure it shows the Dons ARE competitive in L1.
A couple of thoughts after watching the Dons for the first time this season on TV.
I thought the midfield won it for us – Jake Reeves was tremendous, Dannie Bulman belied his years to stay the full 90 minutes and test their keeper with two long-range shot (one of them tipped over the bar). Dean Parrett is a superior option to taking the set pieces. His corner was eventually nodded in by Tom Elliott after help from Darius Charles.
Elliott was a handful up front – he wins his headers but I thought he was fortunate not to get a red card for that wild early tackle. LTB drifted in and out (he holds the ball well) while Andy Barcham had his moments and took his goal sweetly off Reeves through-ball.
The defence worries me. They looked in a panic each time Oxford got into the box, particularly in the first half. Jon Meades had a couple of air swings and Robbo looked in a dither. Barry Fuller was beaten for pace on the outside and indeed was lucky he did not concede a penalty. He did clear off the line later in the game.
I thought Darius Charles did well, he was strong in the second half when we needed him to be.
James Shea was competent in goal, his kicks regularly put the Dons deep in Oxford territory and he was only beaten by Charles putting in to his own goal.
What impressed me was the fitness and work-rate to keep Oxford at bay after they got that goal back early in the second half. I thought Oxford looked out on their feet as the clock wound down and we still looked up for it. We got the benefit of a couple of refereeing decisions, that on another day could have gone against us.
But it was good to see the Dons live – they are going alright one-quarter of the way through the long season.

[liamwimbo]

Phew! What a match. That’s why I don’t like doing predictions. The dull, boring game turned out to be quite a feisty affair with lots of incident and action. Some of the defending was desperate at times, but it was great to see the whole team work so hard, especially Lyle Taylor on the wing sacrificing his usual place up front for the greater good. My fears about the midfield were unfounded as Parrett, Reeves and Bulman did a great job.
So now we sit above the Franchise scum in the table. What a historic occasion. Maybe that won’t be the case at the end of the season, so more reason the savour the moment now.
I now feel reasonably confident the Dons will survive this year. Ardley continues to improve as a manager and I love the way the players have developed a harder edge, so much so that opposition fans are moaning about our robust style. Not quite the Crazy Gang days, but a good step forward in becoming a team that is hard to beat.
And we also have New Plough Lane to look forward to!

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