That Wimbledon went down without even a whimper was the ultimate betrayal of
the Crazy Gang mentality which had kept the Dons in the top flight against the
odds for 14 years.
But it was not just the lack of any meaningful fight at Southampton that was
shocking, it was just how bad the Dons actually were.
And as Wayne Bridge, with his first senior goal, and Marian Pahars secured the
victory which ensured that Bradford stay up, it is for that reason - a lack of
quality - that Wimbledon will not be missed by the rest of the Premiership.
During their fairytale ride from non-League football to be top-flight,
culminating in their FA Cup final win against Liverpool in 1988, the Dons became
the loveable rogues for whom most supporters had a sneaking, if perhaps
grudging, admiration.
They had no ground and few fans but spirits carried them through, and then
under Joe Kinnear, they finally started to show signs of abandoning the
long-ball game.
Against Southampton, however, even the days of Kinnear - let alone Vinnie
Jones, Dennis Wise and John Fashanu - being all too distant a memory.
Not even Bradford's first-half goal against Liverpool, not even teenager
Bridge's 58th minute free-kick and not even Pahars' solo effort 11 minutes from
time, could inspire them to even attain mediocrity.
Southampton, who did not only their manager Glenn Hoddle but also Bradford
proud with a committed display that put the Dons to shame, won at a canter as
Wimbledon wilted just when they most needed to show the character they were
previously renowned for.
Then again the writing has been on the wall for some time, with just one point
now from their final 10 games of the season and only one away win all season in
the Premiership - and that was against Watford.
That the replacement of Egil Olsen, who lost his players' respect and must
expect a share of the blame, by Terry Burton was far too late to make any real
impact was indeed evident, yet the Dons' squad was simply not good enough to
survive.
Burton included only two non-UK players in his line up - Hermann Hreidarsson and
Trond Andersen - but attempting to point the blame at Olsen's overseas signings,
however poor many of them may have been, is simply too easy a conclusion to
draw.
That Wimbledon's problems run much deeper was evident in the opening exchanges
and, in the absence of Kenny Cunningham and of Michael Hughes, the visitors
allowed Southampton to take immediate control.
In the first minute, Dons keeper Neil Sullivan had to block a close range shot
from Pahars with his leg and the visitors were almost trying too hard as they
frantically chased shadows whilst Southampton looked far more assured.
Matthew Oakley fired another chance wide, while Sullivan was put under
considerable pressure on a number of other occasions.
Indeed Wimbledon were left to threaten sporadically on the counter-attack,
with Neal Ardley being closed down by Bridge as he lined up a shot and Carl Cort
also firing off target.
Then came the news which Wimbledon had been dreading - that Bradford had
scored against Liverpool - but even after that there was no perceptible
improvement in the visitors' performance.
Marcus Gayle shot dangerously across the face of goal but there was no one in
the Dons line-up to put their foot on the ball and control operations.
Instead, Wimbledon were actually fortunate simply to keep the scoreline level
when half-chances evaded Pahars, Hassan Kachloul and Trond Soltvedt.
The almost unrelenting pressure on the Wimbledon goal resumed after the
interval as the Dons were at this stage playing almost embarrassingly badly.
They hardly made it into Southampton's half, let alone created a chance of any
note, and instead had to concentrate on keeping out the home side, who may be
used to late-season relegation battles - but normally only ones involving
themselves.
For a short time, the Dons did survive - as much due to fortune as
Southampton's lack of finishing quality, with Kachloul and Davies both coming
close from good positions.
However, it simply could not last for such a porous defence.
With 57 minutes gone, Bridge struck a thunderous 20-yard free kick that easily
beat Sullivan for pace and flicked the underside of the bar before billowing
into the back of the net.
Wimbledon had good reason to panic and they duly threw on centre forward
Andreas Lund for Alan Kimble, who had been the one to concede the free-kick
which lead to the Saints' goal.
Still it was Southampton who continued to threaten, though, with Joe Tessem
striking one shot just over and then missing from close range after the Dons
defence had disappeared without trace yet again.
Wimbledon were falling apart in front of their supporters' eyes and Tessem
spurned another chance to put the home side further ahead.
Eventually another breakthrough did come for Saints, however, as Andersen had
two shots blocked at one end and Pahars picked up the rebound to run more than
half the length of the pitch before easily rounding Dean Blackwell and firing
home.
It was the final nail in Wimbledon's coffin and while Southampton still had
further chances to increase their lead the Dons' attempts to haul themselves
back into the game were frankly pathetic.
At the end they slumped to the ground in despair and frustration. But for all
of the failings of Olsen earlier in the season and despite the standing ovation
which they received from their beleaguered fans, it was the players themselves
who had been mainly to blame.
Teams:
Southampton: Moss, Dodd, Tahar, Lundekvam, Bridge, Tessem,
Oakley, Soltvedt (Marsden 77), Kachloul (Rodrigues 84), Pahars,
Davies.
Subs Not Used: Monk, Benali, Bevan.
Goals: Bridge 57, Pahars 79.
Wimbledon: Sullivan, Jupp, Hreidarsson, Blackwell (Francis 82),
Thatcher, Andersen, Cort, Ardley, Kimble, Gayle (Badir 74),
Euell.
Subs Not Used: Willmott, Lund, Heald.
Booked: Euell, Kimble, Blackwell.
Att: 15,249
Ref: S Lodge (Barnsley).
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