David Artell hails ‘proper away performance’ as Grimsby beat AFC Wimbledon

Posted Sunday, November 10, 2024 by PA

Manager David Artell believes Grimsby showed why they have won five consecutive League Two away games as they ended AFC Wimbledon’s excellent home form with a 1-0 win in south London.

The hosts, who were yet to lose at the Cherry Red Records Stadium this season ahead of the clash, had a goal disallowed during an exciting start.

However, the Mariners took the lead in the 30th minute through Danny Rose before weathering the storm in the second half to secure all three points.

Artell revealed he was frustrated by his side’s defending despite keeping a clean sheet.

He said: “We knew it would be a tough game and it was a tough game.

“We also know we can come away from home and do what we have done today.

“Doing it five times on the spin is not a coincidence, I am pretty sure the AFC Wimbledon fans will go home saying ‘we deserved to win that game’.

“We don’t know how to defend properly and we make it extremely hard for ourselves and our next step is not to do that.

“I have just told the players I am a bit annoyed with them because we have tried to improve on that.

“At the same time, in the second half away from home we have shown we have a group of lads who are really committed to the football club.

“You have seen that again today and I thought it was a proper away performance.”

The result leaves Grimsby seventh in the League Two table while the Dons are now in 14th with several games in hand over the rest of the division.

Wimbledon manager Johnnie Jackson felt his side were not at their best during a closely-fought first half.

“I thought in the first half we were a little bit off it, we were a little bit loose in our shape and in our defending,” he said. “The goal highlighted that.

“It was a poor goal for us to concede, leaving a centre forward unmarked in our own penalty box is a tough one to swallow.

“There was a bit of quality for the delivery and the finish you have to say.

“The first half has cost us really because the second half was all us.

“They had something to cling to, something to defend, and they made it difficult.

“We had a load of efforts but an inch the wrong side of the post, that bit is on the execution and the way they defended.

“It is just one of them, it is frustrating because I felt it was coming all second half but then you run out of time.

“That is football for you.”