Wednesday, 21 March 2012

Oxford United 1 AFC Wimbledon 0

Dean Morgan opened his account to keep Oxford's promotion plans on track.

Striker Morgan struck in his third outing since joining on a one month loan deal from Chesterfield.

In the 57th minute Oli Johnson passed to Morgan on the left of the box and his fierce drive hit keeper Seb Brown on the way in.

Johnson came close himself, but his header off the bar and boss Chris Wilder was sent to the stands after disputing an injury time free kick.

Oxford dominated most of the first period and when Dons keeper Seb Brown was beaten, defenders Sam Hatton and Pim Balkestein cleared shots off the line.

Brown also turned a Andy Chapman free kick past the post and opposite number Ryan Clarke blocked an angled shot from George Moncur with his chest.

Oxford boss Chris Wilder was delighted with the win despite being sent to the stands by referee Keith Stroud in injury time and said:

"I thought it was a great game of football and I haven't seen a better one all season. We scored a cracking goal, but we gave the ball away too cheaply in the last the last ten minutes and that resulted in my frustration.

I've apologised to the players. I abused two drinks bottles, one Powerade and one Gatorade, so I apologise to them too, but I shouldn't have done it."

Wimbledon manager Terry Brown groaned:

"I'm absolutely gutted. I thought we had a nailed on penalty and thought if we'd scored a goal we could have had two or three. I thought we got it down and passed it well, but there's no point in playing pretty football unless you win."

The big talking points after the game seemed to be the penalty shout by Wimbledon when midfielder Sammy Moore went over in the box in the first half and the foul committed by Asa Hall in the dying minutes which led to some frantic 'body on the line' defending.

From where the Press Box is situated, I didn't see the penalty incident clearly, but the reaction of several Oxford players AFTER play had been waved on, suggested they were pretty unhappy with the Wimbledon player to say the least. For this reason alone I felt the decision was correct, but it does beg the question as to why the ref didn't show a yellow card for diving.

I felt that Hall was the pick of the bunch last night, but that he was at fault for giving away the free kick and the ref got that one right - and it should be noted that Wilder's vicious attack on the energy drinks was sparked by the way his lads were playing at that point and not by the decision itself.

Finally, if a manager is going to be sent to the stands for throwing plastic bottles on the ground, we may as well all go home. Wilder wasn't swearing at the officials or opposition - he was just being passionate.
My clipping from the morning paper

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