Downes pleased as Dons dig deep

Posted Sunday, March 03, 2019 by PA

Wally Downes hailed his team’s determination as AFC Wimbledon, League One’s bottom side, collected a point from a goalless draw at Shrewsbury.

The hosts created the game’s better chances but the Dons – who are now nine points adrift of safety – stood firm to keep a clean sheet and make it seven points from their last three away matches.

“It was a very dogged performance,” said Downes. “The game was dictated by the conditions really. There was wind and rain and it certainly wasn’t a classic football match.

“It was a case of rolling your sleeves up and trying to win if you can, but certainly not getting beat and I thought we were very determined in our play today.

“It wasn’t a great footballing performance from either side, but you get these games and it’s important you don’t lose them.”

Downes, whose side found chances hard to come by – with top scorer Joe Pigott firing their best opportunity off target midway through the second half – added: “That’s two wins, a loss and a draw in the last four games and if we can keep that up and build on the clean sheet then going forward we’ve got to keep the run going.”

Shrewsbury made much of the early running with Stoke loanee Tyrese Campbell twice denied by visiting goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale.

The home side’s best opening fell to Josh Laurent but he headed Shaun Whalley’s inviting cross over the bar.

Campbell was again denied by Ramsdale after the break, while Shrewsbury manager Sam Ricketts was also frustrated to see penalty claims for handball turned down after a shot from sub Greg Docherty was blocked.

“I’m really pleased with the performance,” said Ricketts. “I think we’re really starting to move the ball far better, get far more control in the game and the only disappointing thing is we haven’t won the game.

“We had chances to win it. One or two clear-cut chances, one or two half chances and then on top of that we also should have had a penalty as well.”

On the penalty claim, he added: “I’m more than convinced. One million per cent it’s a penalty. The player’s actually put his hands out sideways and saved it as a goalkeeper – that’s a penalty.”

Shrewsbury are now unbeaten in their last five games and 17th in an extremely tight bottom half of the League One table.

Ricketts stressed: “We’re a win away from nearly being in the top half, so that’s the way we have to look at now.

“Our performance level has to maintain like it does for the next 11 games and if we perform like that then we’ll certainly be winning more games.”