Neal Ardley ‘elated’ as AFC Wimbledon stave off relegation

Posted Wednesday, May 02, 2018 by PA

Neal Ardley was beaming after seeing his AFC Wimbledon side secure their place in League One for next season after drawing 0-0 at Doncaster.

In a typically awful end-of-season encounter, chances were at a premium for both sides, but it was a case of job done for the Dons as they claimed the point they needed to ensure survival and spark wild celebrations among the 482 supporters in the away end.

“I am drained and tired, but elated,” Ardley said. “Let’s be honest it was an awful game, but I thought Doncaster had nothing to lose which gave them the freedom to work on things and we had a nervousness about us and it never really flowed, although we had two great chances late on.

“You have to do the hard yards and defend your box well, do everything for the team and the boys have done that. To go six games unbeaten on a run-in when you’re really in the mire takes a lot of character. The pressure down the bottom is so much harder than at the top. The way the staff have handled themselves over the last six weeks has been excellent and they deserve huge credit.

“I’m not going to sit here and say it’s been a hugely successful season because it hasn’t, but when you look at the money at the teams that have gone down and the budgets they have, then it’s to our great credit we’ve stayed up.

“It was never going to be a free-flowing match and the pitch was bobbly, but we adjusted our game and saw the job through. Coming away from home and drawing 0-0 was always going to be a great result.”

Nearly 500 Wimbledon fans made the journey and Ardley added: “They knew the significance of the game and I am delighted we’re sending them home happy.”

For Doncaster, it was a fourth successive game without a goal and boss Darren Ferguson was left frustrated by his side’s lack of thrust up top.

“Our penetration and quality just let us down,” he said. “It’s not a good stat and an unusual one for one of my teams as I haven’t played any different than I usually do.

“It was a scrappy affair, but I thought we shaded it in terms of possession, although the quality was lacking again in the final third of the pitch.

“The boys gave me everything, but I think some players looked fatigued and it was a jaded performance. One or two came in and did well, but nothing spectacular.”