Danish striker David Nielsen won a host of new admirers with a spectacular
goal on his home debut for Wimbledon.
Then, to add to his growing fan club, he produced the best goal celebration
seen at Selhurst Park this season with a dramatic somersault.
Nielsen's opener gave the Dons an early advantage before an inspired
substitution by manager Terry Burton brought Northern Ireland winger Michael
Hughes into the fray to wrap up the points.
It is hard to know who will be the most delighted at the turn of events as
Nielsen is anxious to make a quick impression after his deadline week move from
FC Copenhagen while Hughes, who scored one goal and made another, is only a
month into his comeback after a year out of the game with a broken leg.
Dons, now unbeaten in nine games continue to close in on a First Division
play-off spot.
Two more home games in the coming week could confirm that.
Birmingham, on the other hand, are suffering a crisis of confidence with no
win now in six games, though they should still qualify for the play-offs.
The combative Nielsen, who was later booked following a scuffle with Michael
Johnson, gave Dons a 15th minute lead with a goal right out of their route one
past.
He raced onto a clearance from goalkeeper Kelvin Davis to flash a low shot
past Ian Bennett's right hand.
Birmingham briefly threatened when Dele Adebola came on as an early
substitute, but he lasted only 15 minutes when he was clearly short of full
match fitness and had to be replaced.
Hughes scored the second Wimbledon goal, his first of the season, with a
curling free-kick that crept in off a post after 71 minutes.
Four minutes later he took another free-kick that gave Mark Williams a clear
header for the third goal.
The game was all but over long before Marcelo scored a consolation for
Birmingham with four minutes remaining.
Teams:
Wimbledon: Davis, Cunningham, Williams, Holloway, Hawkins,
Cooper, Andersen, Roberts, Ardley, Nielsen (Gray 84),Agyemang (Hughes 66).
Subs Not Used: Kimble, Heald, Gier.
Booked: Nielsen.
Goals: Nielsen 15, Hughes 71, Williams 73.
Birmingham: Bennett, Eaden, Grainger (Burrows 45), Holdsworth,
Michael Johnson, Hughes, Lazaridis (Adebola 28), Gill,
Woodhouse, Andrew Johnson, Marcelo, Adebola (Horsfield 44).
Subs Not Used: Poole, Bass.
Booked: Hughes, Holdsworth.
Goals: Marcelo 86.
Att: 6,619
Ref: S Tomlin (Lewes).
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