Hodges backs Pigott to find goal trail

Posted Sunday, November 10, 2019 by PA

Manager Glyn Hodges has backed Joe Pigott to rediscover his best form after the AFC Wimbledon striker scored in the 1-1 FA Cup draw with Doncaster.

Pigott was top scorer for the Dons last season with 18 but his effort at Kingsmeadow was just his third of this campaign.

But Hodges believes the former Maidstone man is nearing his best form once again and his goal looked to be the winner before Tom Anderson’s equaliser.

He said: “I’m pleased for him. Sometimes it goes for strikers, sometimes it doesn’t.

“I always think that goals become a habit and hopefully that’s the one that spurs him on. He’s been getting in the right areas.

“I’m pleased with the performance. I came in at half-time thinking that was the best we’ve played [since I was appointed manager]. I was comfortable with how we looked – the players had done exactly what we asked of them.

“I like these conditions. It’s zippy, the ball gets in the box and there’s action.

“Their goalkeeper made a couple of good saves but we needed that second goal to kill them off. Terell [Thomas] has missed one, Joe [Pigott] had a chance but we left ourselves open for that equaliser.

“We can aspire to be as good as Doncaster. The league belies how good they are and I think they’ll go close again this season.

“They knock the ball around well but for long periods we competed with them and played well. If they’re a benchmark of where we’re at then I’m pleased.

“The replay will be another measure of how far we’ve come.”

Doncaster bossed large parts of the second half but it was a set-piece routine that led to the goal for defender Anderson.

Manager Darren Moore was proud of how they fought back and is relishing the replay later this month.

He said: “It was a battling encounter but I’m pleased that we’ve come away from here having not lost the game.

“I’m disappointed not to win the game but I welcome the extra match at the Keepmoat.

“The players showed commitment and endeavour. They regrouped at half-time. We knew we needed to get more pressure on them and get more bodies in the box.

“I told the players that while we could score through open play, sometimes goals have to come from set pieces. I’m pleased for [coach] John Schofield as he’s been working on those in training this week.

“The weather in Yorkshire has been terrible – we’ve been drenched right through – so I’m pleased we were able to do what we wanted to in patches.”