Frustrating defeat denies Dons chance to top third-tier table

AFC Wimbledon (0) 0

Burton Albion (0) 1 Hartridge 51’

AFC Wimbledon have achieved a great deal since battling their way to the Football League in 2011 but regularly beating Burton Albion is something they are yet to master.

The Dons are enjoying their best-ever start to a season in the EFL - a feat that is particularly impressive given this is their first season back in League One following three years in the fourth tier - and even though they started the day with the chance of topping the table, they still could not find a way past Burton. 

That makes it ten matches in a row that they have failed to beat the Brewers, their last success coming in September 2014. 

And they never truly asserted themselves in this latest encounter, something that will particularly frustrate Johnnie Jackson given his side had won six of their last seven and Burton were in the relegation zone before picking up these three points.

Neither side created much in a dull first half. Burton’s three centre-backs were well-equipped for the challenge of Wimbledon’s direct-yet-effective style of play.

A frustrating contest could have had a very different outcome had Omar Bugiel scored his penalty as half-time approached.

Steve Seddon brought some life to proceedings with a crunching tackle in midfield and Myles Hippolyte picked out Marcus Browne with a perfect pass as the ball broke loose.

Browne was felled by Burton’s Alex Hartridge, but Bugiel’s weak initial effort was easily saved by Brad Collins before a rebound bounced back off the post and squirmed its way clear.

Wimbledon were unable to carve out such an opportunity for the rest of the afternoon, and a dour draw became a disappointing defeat early in the second half.

Hartridge provided the perfect contact to a delivery from former Chelsea youngster Charlie Webster, steering a header beyond Nathan Bishop and into the net. 

Webster came closest to the game’s second goal as well, seeing a shot cleared off the line as Wimbledon pushed players forward in search of a leveller.

The Dons remain in the play-off places despite this defeat, and it cannot be understated just how impressive their start to the campaign has been. If anyone was going to deny them the chance to end the day top of the third tier for the first time since reformation, it was always likely to be Burton.

Wimbledon: (3-4-2-1) Bishop - Ogundere, Bauer (Harbottle 60’), Johnson - Asiimwe (Sasu 60’), Reeves, Smith, Seddon - Browne, Hippolyte (Hackford 60’) - Bugiel (Orsi 76). Subs not used: McDonnell, Hutchinson, Maycock