Calamity for James as Dons blow it at Cambridge

Terry Brown says he now has a big decision to make after James Pullen’s horror show at the Abbey Stadium.

The Dons goalkeeper – terrific in the first quarter of an hour – made a costly mistake in either half.

After keeping Rory McAuley at bay twice, his handling error from Jai Reason’s cross gifted Danny Crow an 18th minute opener.

Lewis Taylor’s two goals looked to have swung things in Wimbledon’s favour.

But ten man Cambridge, with just one win since October, secured a draw when Pullen didn’t communicate properly with defender Ben Judge. That allowed striker Lee Phillips to nip in blindside and end United’s six game losing run.

Manager Brown was not best pleased, saying: “I am bitterly disappointed with our performance.

“I have to say both goals are down to goalkeeping errors. James did well early on but the goals weren’t good. I’ve now got a big decision to make in that area.

“Without a doubt it is two points dropped and we were below par. I can’t really say anyone did anywhere near well enough on the face of things.

“We didn’t have a cutting edge and I’m struggling to see, with maybe the exception of Lewis Taylor, who made a difference for us. The front two didn’t work hard enough and I can go on.

“We’ve played a side devoid of any confidence and who had ten men for quite some time. We just didn’t perform.”

In a complete reversal of last Saturday’s rip-roaring start against Forest Green, Wimbledon begun sluggishly, pulled to pieces inside the first 20 minutes.

Pullen had to twice deny Cambridge midfielder McAuley inside the first quarter of an hour, first when Ben Judge’s clearance fell right to the U’s player’s feet.

After the Dons keeper had pushed his shot around the post, McAuley beat Taylor to Jai Reason’s corner in the air – Pullen again at full stretch to keep the 20-year-old’s header out.

Danny Blanchett had to clear off the line once United forward Phillips did beat the Wimbledon stopper but the goal wasn’t long in coming.

The opener arrived from a Pullen mistake. He came for Reason’s cross when he had no need, spilling the ball into the path of Antonio Murray and Danny Crow tapped in from close range.

Ten minutes later Sam Hatton almost replied with a rocket from 25 yards but they needed to wait until just before the interval to break back.

A flowing move ended with Taylor tapping beyond Simon Brown with three minutes of the first half remaining following Steven Gregory’s burst into the box.

Taylor stole the show after half-time, too. Danny Kedwell was too strong on the left for Josh Coulson and after out-stripping the defender, Taylor was eventually picked out and he drilled low to the left for 2-1.

Antonio Murray on his home debut was sent off for Cambridge for a studs-up challenge on Kedwell. There was no attempt for the ball as things swung firmly in Wimbledon’s favour.

The numerical advantage was almost pressed home. Judge’s flick on was headed against the underside of the crossbar by Paul Lorraine but it proven a telling miss.

From Robbie Willmott’s cross, Judge left the ball seemingly on Pullen’s say so and Phillips snuck in unnoticed to leave the visitors staring daggers at one another.

Simon Russell should have won it with full-time looming but he shot wide of Pullen’s post.

Cambridge manager Martin Ling said: “It feels like a victory for us.

“To be 2-1 down and then lose Antonio you are looking for a fightback. We are in a relegation battle and we showed the character needed to get out of it.

“We’ve lifted the doom and gloom about the place and even though it is only a point it feels like so much more.”