A memorable goal settled a forgettable game as Wimbledon struggled in the
absence of boss Joe Kinnear.
Leicester's Steve Guppy smashed the winner into the top corner in the sixth
minute and the Dons could not respond despite their usual spirit and fight.
Guppy's winner sealed Leicester's first Premiership win since Boxing Day and
provided three crucial points in a league campaign which has faltered as the
Foxes booked a place at Wembley in the Worthington Cup.
The Dons had experienced a similar sticky patch but four points from two tough
away games, Everton and Sheffield Wednesday, in the last week suggested the
Crazy Gang were back in business.
Wimbledon's preparation, however, had been hampered by the shock surrounding
Kinnear's heart attack at Hillsborough which left him confined to his hospital
bed as the Dons continued their quest for a European place.
Kinnear was taken ill before his team's midweek win at Sheffield Wednesday and
is still in a Sheffield hospital.
News that he should be out early next week was greeted with warm applause from
both sets of supporters before the kick-off.
But Guppy showed little sympathy when the Leicester wing-back crashed in a
ferocious long-range drive after Neil Sullivan miscued a tricky back-pass from
Chris Perry into his path.
Guppy collected the clearance from the Scottish international and promptly
despatched the ball straight back past him at high velocity.
Goalmouth action was limited for the Premiership's second lowest crowd of the
season. The 11,801 attendance at Selhurst Park was less than 100 more than the
lowest, also at Wimbledon for the visit of Coventry in December.
Tony Cottee, one away from 200 league goals, had a glimpse of a chance but was
denied by Sullivan.
Ian Marshall found Cottee in space on the edge of the penalty box but a poor
first touch took him back into a crowded area and, when he eked out a low shot,
Sullivan was able to dive low to his right and turn it round the post.
Perry and Ben Thatcher, at the heart of the Wimbledon defence in the absence
of the injured Dean Blackwell, repelled the visitors.
And at the other end, the Dons were kept at bay by a powerful display from
Gerry Taggart who was commanding in the air as Wimbledon turned up the heat as
half-time approached.
A Michael Hughes free-kick whistled over Kasey Keller's cross-bar in the
fourth minute and Marcus Gayle headed wide in first-half stoppage time.
Keller, who had been struggling to kick in the first-half, came off at
half-time to be replaced by Pegguy Arphexad.
Arphexad was beaten after 10 minutes in typical Wimbledon fashion but the goal
was ruled out by referee Rob Harris.
The French keeper saved an Efan Ekoku header from an Alan Kimble free-kick but
Robbie Earle and Jason Euell scrambled the rebound over the line. Leicester were
relieved to see the referee had spotted an infringement.
The Dons looked dangerous but the visitors almost doubled their lead in the
64th minute when Steve Walsh thumped a header against the crossbar after Matt
Elliott flicked on a Muzzy Izzet corner.
Perry denied Cottee his milestone again with a terrific block as the veteran
goal poacher looked destined to score from 12 yards.
John Hartson returned to Premiership action for the first time since his
four-match ban imposed by the Football Association after his training ground
attack on Eyal Berkovic at West Ham.
The £7.5million signing made his fourth appearance since his move across
London in January as a 57th-minute substitute for Ekoku.
He could not turn things round as the Dons slumped to only their second home
league defeat of the season.
Leicester skipper Walsh made a well-timed tackle on the Welsh international as
he sensed a chance late in the day.
Teams:
Wimbledon: Sullivan, Cunningham, Kimble, Perry, Thatcher, Earle,
Ekoku (Hartson 57), Roberts, Gayle, M. Hughes (C. Hughes 76),Euell.
Subs Not Used: Ardley, Heald, Cort.
Booked: C. Hughes.
Leicester: Keller (Arphexad 46), Taggart, Walsh, Izzet, Lennon,
Guppy, Savage, Kaamark, Elliott, Marshall, Cottee.
Subs Not Used: Gunnlaugsson, Fenton, Impey, Zagorakis.
Goals: Guppy 6.
Att: 11,801
Ref: R Harris (Oxford).
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