Downes relieved after Wimbledon secure rare victory over 10-man Doncaster

Posted Sunday, March 10, 2019 by PA

Wimbledon boss Wally Downes breathed a huge sigh of relief after seeing his side claim a first home Sky Bet League One win since Boxing Day with a 2-0 defeat of Doncaster.

Downes highlighted the red card shown to Doncaster’s John Marquis for two bookable offences after 51 minutes as the turning point in the game.

Steve Seddon and Shane McLoughlin fired bottom club Wimbledon to a crucial win, leaving Downes’ side seven points from safety, while Rovers remain sixth despite a fifth game without a win.

And Downes is convinced the three points will be a huge confidence boost as Wimbledon look to escape the drop this season.

“We knew that they were a good team in an expansive game, so we were happy to sacrifice some possession and hit them on the break,” said Downes.

“Once the bloke got sent off it changed the game and we were always looking to impose ourselves more in the second half with the wind. We were more desperate to win the game than they were.

“We could have played a lot better with the 11 against 10 but we dug it out. It was seat of the pants a couple of times, but I think we were worthy of the victory.

“It puts us into the game against Peterborough on Tuesday with some confidence. It’s three points and we now look forward to getting another three which will take us into Southend away.

“We have given ourselves an opportunity now to get nine points in the week. That’s what it amounts to. It has given us a good starting point.”

Marquis headed Rovers best chance of the first half onto the top of the bar following James Coppinger’s 37th-minute free-kick.

Marquis received his marching orders just seconds after Aaron Ramsdale tipped over Ben Whiteman’s shot.

After Ramsdale saved Butler’s header from the resulting corner he was blocked by Marquis who was shown his second yellow card.

The 10 men held out until Joe Pigott’s pass allowed Seddon to blast a left-foot shot past Marko Marosi before substitute McLoughlin sealed the points with a low right-foot shot in injury time.

Doncaster manager Grant McCann said: “I saw the sending off on the video.

“He was silly for getting the first booking, but I think the referee could have told them both to walk away.

“The second one… there’s nothing in it. Ramsdale’s run into John and he falls to the floor and John gets a yellow card.

“That’s the way it is going for us now. We must forget about officials and concentrate on our game.

“We were too safe today, and didn’t play with any real intensity,

“Especially in the first half. We need to find the flair to create chances. We need to play with freedom, but we will get it back.

“There are 11 games to go, we are going to have to be brave on the ball and go play our game and take the safety catch off.

“Playing with the safety catch on is not what I am about or what this club is about. The boys are going to have to find that within themselves now and go and produce.”