AFC Wimbledon 1 Liverpool 2
They did everything except muzzle Steven Gerrard. AFC Wimbledon brought us a nice line in nostalgia in the way they set about trying to dismantle their opponents and they gave Liverpool a genuine fright in those moments when Bayo Akinfenwa threatened to create another piece of history for a club whose officials could be seen getting their pre-match grub in the greasy spoon, Fat Boy's, round the corner.
Yet this was a night when Gerrard reminded everyone how much Liverpool will miss him when he leaves for Hollywood at the end of the season. His first goal was an example of his courage and leadership qualities. The second, direct from a free-kick, was a moment of high skill and how Liverpool needed his brilliance bearing in mind the prodigious efforts of the team that is currently 12th in the old fourth division.
Gerrard's 35th birthday happens to be on the same day as the FA Cup final and what a story it would be if his time with Liverpool should end at Wembley. Others might have been distracted by all the publicity that has engulfed him over the last week. Gerrard simply got on with doing what he does best and, in this instance, it involved getting Liverpool out of a hole bearing in mind the way Akinfewa's goal left them looking ripe for a potential upset.
In the programme a question-and-answer session with Akinfenwa told us in great detail his favourite Nando’s meal – “quarter chicken (medium), five wings (medium), chips and corn on the cob,” – and that if he had not been a footballer he would have been a security guard. Wimbledon’s scorer is the closest there is in football to a human Hummer. Every time he touches the ball here the crowd shout “Beast” and what a moment, after 36 minutes, when he launched his formidable 16-stone frame at the ball to prod it over the goal-line.
Akinfenwa would also have been most people’s best bet to flatten a couple of opposition defenders. Yet this Wimbledon team is not like the last one and football has moved on since the days when footballers could get away with tackles like the infamous one Vinny Jones inflicted on Steve McMahon, by way of introduction, at Wembley 27 years ago.
Neal Ardley’s team were always going to need more refinement if they were going to threaten a side from three divisions higher. At one point Akinfenwa could be seen taking out two Liverpool players with a little drag-back in the centre-circle. If anything, the early impression was that Wimbledon’s players seemed too respectful of their opponents, not pressing quickly enough and letting Liverpool control the midfield and show their superiority on the ball.
Gerrard’s goal was a case in point even if, by that stage, the first real chance of the evening had gone to Sean Rigg. His left-foot shot was wide and within four minutes Gerrard had played the ball out to Javier Manquillo and continued his run into the penalty area. As the cross came in, Gerrard was the most determined player in the penalty area to reach the ball first, bravely stooping down and showing great desire to head the ball past James Shea in the home goal.
Briefly, Wimbledon looked rattled. Yet when they did shake their heads clear it was a wonderful response in that flurry of concerted attacking around the half-hour mark. When teams play Liverpool these days they know they are vulnerable in the air and, once again, Simon Mignolet was a danger to his own team.
In fairness to the Liverpool goalkeeper, he had made a splendid reflex save in the midst of that spell of Wimbledon pressure to turn away another chance for Rigg, this time on his right foot. Shortly afterwards, Matt Tubbs hooked a shot wide from inside the penalty area. Wimbledon could certainly be encouraged by the frequency with which they were getting behind Liverpool’s defence and then came the corner that led to Akinfenwa’s goal.
Mignolet, with both arms up, completely missed the trajectory of the ball. Mamadou Sakho was caught by surprise and when the ball ricocheted off the Liverpool defender and against the crossbar it was Akinfenwa who was steaming in to get to the rebound first. Mignolet's attempts to persuade the referee that he had been impeded fooled no one.
On the walls outside there were posters advertising Wimbledon’s next three home games: Carlisle, Accrington Stanley and Newport County. Jones’s FA Cup medal could be seen in a glass cabinet in the main entrance and the guests of honour included old heroes such as Dave Beasant and Lawrie Sanchez. Yet the television pictures also showed Ardley’s half-time team-talk and the remarkable part was how calm everyone looked. They looked like a group who believed they could do it.
Gerrard had other ideas and what followed was another reminder about his influence on this team. Early in the second half, Rigg dispossessed Emre Can but could not get his shot on target. Then Barry Fuller conceded a free-kick 25 yards out from goal, otherwise known as Gerrard territory. His shot was curled with expertise into the top corner and Liverpool had the lead again. This time they were not to relinquish it.
(Guardian Service)
