AFC Wimbledon 3-0 Crewe Alex 24/25 Review - From Bad to Worse

Sigh. Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse, this happens. Not only are they down 10 players injured with none due back any time soon, they potentially go and lose 2 more players to suspensions. It never rains, it pours eh? It was always going to be a tough night down in the capital, but things were made a lot worse by the idiotic decision by Jamie Knight-Lebel and then ref Andrew Humphries in the space of 10 seconds which is the dominant talking point of the game. Here is my review of tonight's loss:

Jesus Jamie

Yes, a lot of people will berate the ref for awarding the red card. On rewatch, I don't see on what grounds he can say it's denying a clear goalscoring opportunity, I really don't. I'd hope that they appeal, as I think they have a fair chance at getting it overturned.

BUT, it doesn't excuse the idiotic decision by Knight-Lebel in the first place. What on earth was he thinking?! Be a defender and challenge for the cross, don't wrestle with the striker and give the ref a decision to make. To see a player who's been so reliable make such a stupid and reckless and cost his side the game is so frustrating, it's hard to put it into words. I know he's young and will make mistakes. But you can't make a mistake like that, in this sort of game and in that position. It's inexcusable.

Depleted

Should they not get Knight-Lebel back available for Saturday, then things will get pretty desperate. Zac Williams, depending on which data source you consult, picked up his 10th yellow card for a silly challenge early in the game. If both he and Knight-Lebel are missing for Saturday, it will put them in a rather alarming situation of having no attackers AND no defenders.

The better side

The saddest thing is, the Alex looked so so comfortable for the first 39 minutes. Wimbledon had created nothing. The Alex had been decent in possession and had even caused some problems going forward. Yes, the lack of strikers was an issue, but they didn't look in any danger of conceding, with the game plan and selection working ideally. I don't think that should be lost in the overall discourse surrounding this game. We all feel low at the moment and rightly so, but the team haven't given up. They still have some fight left in them.

Ref Assessment

How can he possibly know the challenge is denying a clear goalscoring opportunity from the angle he has? He can't. You've given the penalty, doing ruin the game even more than giving a red in that situation. Refs in the EFL aren't corrupt, they are just monumentally useless. Add this clown to the list.

Management Assessment

Did what they could with the starting XI and the changes were just damage limitation, although I do like the fact they gave Agius 30 minutes. He needs more game time given they have so few fit attackers.

Player Assessments

Filip Marschall

A steady evening after his howler on Saturday, which is more than welcome. Made a number of simple stops and could do nothing about the goals.

Jamie Knight-Lebel

I won't crucify him. But let this be a learning moment. Next time, don't get in a rugby scrum at a cross. Defend it like a defender should. Hopefully he gets the chance to put things right on Saturday.

Connor O'Riordan

A solid enough performance at the heart of defence, I wouldn't pin much on him.

Zac Williams

If that was his 10th yellow and he now starts a 2 match ban, it shows how ill advised giving him the captaincy was. 9 yellow cards in his last 16 games is not acceptable. Will he ever grow up and find some discipline?

Ryan Cooney

Hard to judge him, another game where he wasn't poor, but he didn't get forward enough. His silly antics early in the game trying to earn a card for Wimbledon were ugly and not what I want to see.

Jack Powell

He was ok, like most of them. He did put in a nice free kick for O'Riordan which deserved better.

Joel Tabiner

I won't berate him as this was a game where he was always going to struggle, but him having just 39 touches in a 90 minute performance, the fewest of any outfield player in this game, highlights the serious issues there are with him currently. Too often he drifts through games and is completely anonymous.

Tom Lowery

Some nice passes and touches, looked like he'd never been away. His early booking was ridiculous.

Max Conway

Again, a tough night where it was hard to expect much. But gobbing off to the point you get booked is silly.

Matus Holicek MOTM

A low bar, but I thought he looked lively in the first half and was unlucky to see a close range shot blocked. I get why he came off at HT, as they went into damage limitation mode.

Shilow Tracey

Not the game he was ever going to flourish in. He battled well and got stuck in, but he got little joy as the Alex struggled to get up the pitch in support.

Subs:

Lewis Billington

Can't say he made too many mistakes as he came on to try and stem the tide. He'll start at CB on Saturday, as he should have done at Swindon a month ago.

Max Sanders

Offered fresh legs and was efficient in what he was asked to do, completing all 18 of his passes.

Callum Agius

Some really nice touches in what was a tough evening for him given he had no hope of support around him. He needs more game time. Maybe even a start to ignite the fan interest?

Overall Verdict

I predicted a 3-0 defeat before a ball was kicked. I didn't expect it to be the ref that was the main contributing factor in that defeat though. Lessons need to be learned by some, but where this horrible run of form ends, god only knows. Scoring a goal feels like an effort for them at the moment, let alone actually winning a game.