AFC Wimbledon 1 Walsall 0 - Report and pictures

[gallery]Walsall slipped to defeat on their first ever visit to the Kingsmeadow Stadium as AFC Wimbledon ran out 1-0 winners in London.

Analysis

A second half goal from Lyle Taylor settled an uneventful and uninspiring game in the Dons favour to secure a first win in eight games for the hosts.

Things could have been different for the Saddlers had Simeon Jackson scored in the first half after being sent clean through on goal.

But in truth, neither side created a lot in a scrappy game settled by Taylor's goal.

In naming his starting line-up, boss Jon Whitney kept faith with the team that secured a late win over Peterborough last time out.

It meant the Saddlers continued in a 3-5-1-1 formation with Erhun Oztumer operating behind Simeon Jackson in the number 10 role and Kieron Morris starting in central midfield.

Wimbledon lined up without skipper Barry Fuller who was ruled out with up a pectoral muscle injury. George Francomb came in as his replacement as the Dons lined-up in a 4-3-3 system.

Neil Ardley's side entered the clash having failed to win in each of their last seven outings.

Eager to capitalise, it was Whitney's men who started on the front foot – with the Saddlers creating the game's first real chance in the 15^th minute.

After a spell of patient build-up play, the ball was worked wide right to Jason McCarthy who jinked past a few challenges before hitting a rasping drive which was beaten away by a diving James Shea.

Gradually though, the hosts began to grow into the game with the lively Jakes Reeves pulling the strings in midfield.

And they came close to taking the lead when Andy Barcham danced down the left-wing before delivering a dangerous cross which was almost met by a full-stretch Tom Soares.

Walsall's first ever trip to the Kingsmeadow Stadium had proved a real battle with chances proving few and far between for both sides.

But they should have broken the deadlock in the 40^th minute when Isaiah Osbourne slipped Jackson in on goal.

The Canadian international raced through unopposed and dinked the ball over the on-rushing Shea. But the striker lifted the ball fractionally too high, with his effort sailing over the bar.

It was the Dons who threatened first after the interval with Dannie Bulman producing a stunning volley from 25-yards which Etheridge parried away.

Wimbledon took the lead with a little over 20 minutes remaining thanks to Taylor's bizarre opener.

After initially failing to connect with a low cross into the box, the striker spun 360 degrees to get a second bite of the cheery before then driving the ball into the corner.

Within minutes the hosts almost doubled their lead with Etheridge producing a spectacular stop to keep out Tom Elliott's header.

Walsall responded with Morris firing inches wide from the edge of the box.

Whitney then switched Amadou Bakayoko for Matt Preston with the striker joining Jackson up front as the Saddlers shifted to a midfield diamond formation.

Wimbledon should have put the game beyond doubt in the 90^th minute when Francombe hit the byline and cut the ball back for Elliott who sidefooted wide when he should have scored.

And he was almost made to pay when the Saddlers went straight up the other end and forced a corner.

Oztumer's delivery was met by James O'Connor who looked to guide the ball into the near post. But Shea proved equal to the effort and did well to claw the ball away.

Undeterred, Walsall continued to press with Laird hitting a rasping volley from 25-yards which smashed against the crossbar.

Elliott then went through in stoppage time only to be denied by a spectacular Etheridge stop.

Key moments

7 Jake Reeves fires weak shot on goal from 20 yards which is easy for Neil Etheridge.

14 Jason McCarthy jinks his way past two defenders before hitting a rasping drive which is well beaten away by James Shea.

25 Andy Barcham's fizzing left-wing cross is almost met by a stretching Tom Soares.

39 Isaiah Osbourne sends Simeon Jackson in one-on-one but while the striker lifts the ball over Shea his effort sails over the bar.

53 Dannie Bulman produces a stunning volley from 25-yards which Etheridge parries away.

62 Reeves has a strike from 25-yards which takes a deflection but is still comfortable for Etheridge.

68 GOAL WIMBLEDON. Lyle Taylor initially completely misses the ball but spins to get a second bite of the cheery before driving a strike past Etheridge.

71 Etheridge produces a spectacular stop to keep out Tom Elliott's header.

72 Erhun Oztumer fires over from 25-yards.

75 Amadou Bakyoko tees up Kieron Morris who drills a low strike inches wide from the edge of the box.

90 Shea makes a smart stop to claw away an O'Connor effort from a corner.

91 Scott Laird rattles the crossbar with a spectacular volley from 25-yards.

92 Etheridge produces a brilliant one-handed stop to deny Elliott.