Stuart McCall bemoans Bradford’s defending in AFC Wimbledon defeat

Posted Sunday, January 28, 2018 by PA

Under-pressure manager Stuart McCall hit out at Bradford’s defending during the 4-0 defeat to AFC Wimbledon at Valley Parade.

McCall, given a vote of confidence in midweek, watched on as Cody McDonald’s brace and goals from Jimmy Abdou and Andy Barcham condemned the play-off chasing Bantams to their fifth consecutive defeat in all competitions.

The former Scotland international, who has added four new players to his squad in the last two days, said: “When you are on a run like we are you have to dig deep and get a clean sheet, but we are conceding so many goals and the goals we are conceding are soft goals.

“We know confidence is low. The only way you cure that is by getting results and by getting back to basics, but if you make mistakes like we did today you don’t give yourself a chance to win football matches.

“But we have got some new players in, they have a strong mentality and they will give everyone a lift.”

Bradford’s misery was complete when McCall was sent to the stands in the 75th minute.

He explained: “The referee has ended up giving us a free-kick when the linesman was saying it was the other way when it was right in front of him. I put my arm out to appeal and he ran into it.”

The win enabled AFC Wimbledon to complete a double over Bradford, who they beat 2-1 at home on December 23.

The Dons are now four points above the relegation zone and have only lost once in their last seven Sky Bet League One matches.

Manager Neal Ardley said: “We are in good form and Bradford are having a little bit of a tough time. It is only wins that give you confidence.

“We are feeling good about ourselves and obviously Bradford are not, but I still believe they can be in the play-offs at the end of the season.

“We would have been happy with a 1-0, but we took our chances and we got our tactics right.

“We scored three great breakaway goals in the second half and this was our fourth clean sheet.

“We are happy with our league form, but this is a tough league and we have a long way to go.”

Bradford were aggrieved that referee Geoff Eltringham disallowed a goal by former Wimbledon forward Dominic Poleon for offside three minutes after half-time when Paul Taylor’s shot was deflected into his path by Matt Kilgallon.

At first the referee appeared to award a goal, but changed his mind after Wimbledon’s players asked him to consult a linesman.

Ardley said: “The referee didn’t see the deflection off Kilgallon. Poleon was not offside when the shot came in but he was when it came off Kilgallon. Between them the referee and the linesman came up with the right decision.”