Neal Ardley backs Joe Pigott to be a fans favourite

Posted Sunday, January 21, 2018 by PA

Neal Ardley is convinced Joe Pigott can go on and become a fans favourite after the new AFC Wimbledon signing marked his debut with a goal in the 2-0 win against Blackpool.

The 24-year-old former Charlton Athletic striker, signed from Maidstone United last week, immediately started to repay the faith shown in him by Ardley with a second-half strike to cement all three points .

That added to Liam Trotter’s close-range finish as the Dons climbed out of the relegation zone and within two points of their opponents Blackpool.

“Hopefully the fans straight away will be delighted and egg him on and cheer him which is what you want,” said Ardley.

“You want that bond between a new signing and the fans, he’s certainly introduced himself well, I knew that’s what he’s capable of and that’s why we signed him.

“I always ask my forwards, run yourselves into the ground and when you can’t do it anymore we’ll bring fresh legs on.

“I don’t massively look at the league table and I try and tell our players not to worry about it because sometimes you can get a good point away from home but the teams around you win a game which puts a dampen on it.

“Not every team can get to 53, 54 points whatever it is, we just set our targets, have a bit of tunnel vision and keep chipping away.”

Trotter scored on the rebound after Joe Lumley saved Cody McDonald’s shot before Pigott sealed matters 13 minutes from time with a precise shot.

The result leaves the Seasiders 17th in the table, three places clear of the relegation places with their next game at home to promotion-chasing Charlton.

And manager Gary Bowyer conceded his players had been caught off the pace against the Dons.

He said: “For one of very few times this year, we’ve not carried the threat we normally do. We’ve not created nowhere near as much as we normally do. That’s the major frustration today.

“The two goals were poor goals defensively for us. We’ve been punished for it. I felt sorry for Joe Lumley because he pulled off a magnificent save when called upon, we’ve not backed him up.

“We needed a bit more of a threat going forward. We’ve not done ourselves credit and we’ve certainly not given the wonderful support we’ve had anything to shout about.

“In the level of performance and the manner of the goals, the players have let themselves down and the supporters down.”