An appalling blunder by Southampton goalkeeper Paul Jones handed Wimbledon all
three points at The Dell today - and with it almost certain Premiership
survival.
Jones raced from his area after 37 minutes to clear a hopeful long ball but
completely missed his kick to leave a grateful Carl Leaburn an empty net.
Saints could count themselves unlucky not to earn at least a point, Kevin
Richardson rattling the crossbar with a stunning drive in the first half.
But the Dons have conceded just 15 goals in 14 away games this season - the
best record in the Premiership - and without the suspended Matt Le Tissier,
Saints lacked the guile to pick the lock.
The visitors' first goal for 335 minutes was enough for a vital win that
leaves them comfortably clear of the relegation zone with 40 points.
The early stages had the air of an end-of-season kickabout, even though Saints
still harboured hopes of a European place and Wimbledon were by no means safe
from relegation.
Carlton Palmer at least made an impression on his return to the Saints
line-up. The former Leeds midfielder was sorely missed last week when the home
side went down 1-0 away to Sheffield Wednesday.
He quickly demonstrated his importance to Southampton on his return in place
of the suspended Matt Le Tissier.
His challenge sent the ball spinning towards David Hirst, and the Dons were
grateful for a last-ditch interception by Dean Blackwell to deny Hirst a free
run on goal.
Joe Kinnear welcomed back Ben Thatcher in place of Alan Kimble, with Marcus
Gayle replacing Jason Euell.
But it was Robbie Earle who went closest to an opening goal on 14 minutes with
a bizarre scramble in the home penalty area.
Jones dropped Cunningham's cross under pressure from Leaburn, and Earle's shot
rebounded off Richard Dryden before hitting the stunned goalkeeper on the chest
and going out for corner.
Chris Perry made a more intentional and orthodox block from Ostenstad's shot
at the other end, while Neal Ardley blasted wastefully wide when put in a good
position by Hughes.
Hughes himself was guilty of a similar miss as both sides struggled to force
the goalkeepers into some meaningful activity on a miserable afternoon.
Thankfully an untidy first half was finally brought to life after half-an-hour
with Richardson seemingly intent on copying Tommy Hutchinson's FA Cup final feat
by scoring for both sides.
Firstly he deflected Hughes' harmless shot goalbound on 32 minutes and forced
Jones into an excellent reflex stop that he gathered at the second attempt.
Just two minutes later he almost broke his Saints duck in spectacular style
with a thumping drive from 30 yards.
Hughes' cross was pulled back too far for Hirst and Palmer in the area but
fell perfectly for veteran midfielder Richardson and he was highly unlucky to
see his left-foot effort come back off the bar with Sullivan well beaten.
Three minutes later, however, it was the Dons who finally ended their goal
drought after 335 minutes in bizarre fashion.
Jones raced out of his area to clear the through ball only to miss his
clearance completely to leave Leaburn to slot the ball into an empty net from a
tight angle.
The Dons almost caught Southampton cold seconds after the restart, Gayle
climbing highest to reach Thatcher's cross - but Jones was alert to the danger
and dived bravely at the striker's feet to gather the loose ball.
Chances were coming much quicker than in the first half, and Claus Lundekvam
should have done better with a free header from Beresford's cross but, leaning
back, he cold not keep the effort down.
Sullivan had to be alert to sprint from his line to prevent Ostenstad reaching
Hirst's clever through ball, as Saints pushed forward in search of an
equaliser.
It should have come in the 54th minute, Hughes and Hirst combining in a neat
one-two on the edge of the area only for John Beresford to stumble with the goal
at his mercy - and Sullivan was again down quickly to save.
The loudest cheer of the afternoon came with the introduction of Kevin Davies
after 57 minutes following a two-month absence with an ankle injury.
But the PFA Young Player-of-the-Year runner-up wasted a glorious chance to
grab an equaliser, copying his goalkeeper's earlier miskick with the goal at his
mercy just 12 yards out.
Teams
Southampton: Jones, Dodd, Benali (Monkou 82),
Richardson (Williams 57), Lundekvam, Dryden, Hughes, Palmer,
Hirst (Davies 57), Ostenstad, Beresford.
Subs Not Used: Moss, Gibbens.
Booked: Lundekvam.
Wimbledon: Sullivan, Cunningham, Thatcher, Perry, Blackwell,
Ardley, Earle, Roberts, Gayle (C. Hughes 69), Leaburn, M. Hughes.
Subs Not Used: McAllister, Clarke, Euell, Heald.
Goals: Leaburn 38.
Att: 14,815
Ref: M D Reed (Birmingham).
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