AFC Wimbledon 1-0 Walsall

Lyle Taylor grabbed the only goal of the game as AFC Wimbledon beat Walsall to record a first win in eight matches in all competitions.

The Dons came into the match without a victory since beating Oxford on January 14, a run that started with their 3-1 FA Cup defeat at home to Sutton three days later.

But Taylor's 12th goal of the season was enough to earn them all three points in this game as Walsall suffered a first defeat in three games.

Home goalkeeper James Shea stopped Walsall full-back Jason McCarthy's fierce drive, while Dons midfielder Tom Soares was inches away from scoring in a first half low on chances.

Dannie Bulman forced Neil Etheridge into a brilliant full-stretch save after the restart as the Dons pushed for the victory.

And Taylor gave the Dons three points with a cool finish at the second attempt to finally get the hosts' season back on track.

The striker completely missed the ball at the first attempt, before burying his second effort from 12 yards.

Tom Elliott missed a good chance to double the lead in the 89th minute and almost paid the price as Walsall came close to a late leveller.

Shea batted O'Connor's shot off the line before visiting substitute Scott Laird hit the bar in the 90th minute, but Wimbledon deservedly hung on for the win.

Match report supplied by the Press Association.

• Line-ups
• Match Stats
• Live Text

Line-ups

Wimbledon

• 1Shea
• 7FrancombBooked at 90mins
• 32Charles
• 6Robinson
• 22Kelly
• 8ReevesBooked at 64mins
• 4Bulman
• 14Soares
• 17Barcham
• 9Elliott
• 33TaylorSubstituted forPoleonat 83'minutes

Substitutes

• 5Nightingale
• 10Poleon
• 18Parrett
• 19Fitzpatrick
• 23Barnett
• 24McDonnell
• 31Owens

Walsall

• 1Etheridge
• 32O'Connell
• 4O'Connor
• 16PrestonSubstituted forBakayokoat 73'minutes
• 5McCarthy
• 14OsbourneBooked at 76mins
• 7Chambers
• 11Morris
• 2EdwardsSubstituted forLairdat 86'minutes
• 10Oztumer
• 9Jackson

Substitutes

• 3Laird
• 6Dobson
• 13MacGillivray
• 18Randall-Hurren
• 20Bakayoko
• 24Roberts
• 44Moussa

Referee:

John Busby

Attendance:

4,586

Match Stats

Home TeamWimbledonAway TeamWalsall

Possession

Home55%

Away45%

Shots

Home11

Away8

Shots on Target

Home6

Away3

Corners

Home7

Away5

Fouls

Home12

Away10

Live Text

Posted at

Match ends, AFC Wimbledon 1, Walsall 0.

Full Time

Posted at 90'+4'

Second Half ends, AFC Wimbledon 1, Walsall 0.

Posted at 90'+2'

Corner, AFC Wimbledon. Conceded by Neil Etheridge.

Posted at 90'+2'

Attempt saved. Tom Elliott (AFC Wimbledon) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner.

Posted at 90'+1'

Scott Laird (Walsall) hits the bar with a left footed shot from the centre of the box.

Posted at 90'+1'

Attempt saved. James O'Connor (Walsall) right footed shot from the left side of the six yard box is saved in the bottom left corner.

Posted at 90'

Corner, Walsall. Conceded by Darius Charles.

Posted at 89'

Attempt missed. Tom Elliott (AFC Wimbledon) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right.

Posted at 88'

Dannie Bulman (AFC Wimbledon) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 88'

Foul by Erhun Oztumer (Walsall).

Substitution

Posted at 86'

Substitution, Walsall. Scott Laird replaces Joe Edwards.

Posted at 84'

Tom Elliott (AFC Wimbledon) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 84'

Foul by Eoghan O'Connell (Walsall).

Substitution

Posted at 83'

Substitution, AFC Wimbledon. Dominic Poleon replaces Lyle Taylor.

Posted at 82'

Tom Soares (AFC Wimbledon) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 82'

Foul by Kieron Morris (Walsall).

Posted at 79'

Foul by Lyle Taylor (AFC Wimbledon).

Posted at 79'

Joe Edwards (Walsall) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Booking

Posted at 76'

Isaiah Osbourne (Walsall) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Posted at 76'

Jake Reeves (AFC Wimbledon) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 76'

Foul by Isaiah Osbourne (Walsall).

Posted at 75'

Attempt missed. Kieron Morris (Walsall) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.

Posted at 74'

Corner, Walsall. Conceded by Sean Kelly.

Substitution

Posted at 73'

Substitution, Walsall. Amadou Bakayoko replaces Matt Preston.

Posted at 73'

Attempt missed. Erhun Oztumer (Walsall) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high.

Posted at 72'

Foul by Paul Robinson (AFC Wimbledon).

Posted at 72'

Joe Edwards (Walsall) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 71'

Corner, AFC Wimbledon. Conceded by Neil Etheridge.

Posted at 71'

Attempt saved. Tom Elliott (AFC Wimbledon) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top left corner.

Posted at 70'

Corner, AFC Wimbledon. Conceded by Joe Edwards.

Posted at 70'

George Francomb (AFC Wimbledon) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 70'

Foul by Simeon Jackson (Walsall).

Goal!

Posted at 68'

Goal! AFC Wimbledon 1, Walsall 0. Lyle Taylor (AFC Wimbledon) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Andy Barcham following a set piece situation.

Posted at 67'

Foul by Tom Elliott (AFC Wimbledon).

Posted at 67'

James O'Connor (Walsall) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 67'

Attempt blocked. Darius Charles (AFC Wimbledon) header from the centre of the box is blocked.

Posted at 66'

Corner, AFC Wimbledon. Conceded by Matt Preston.

Booking

Posted at 64'

Jake Reeves (AFC Wimbledon) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Posted at 64'

Foul by Jake Reeves (AFC Wimbledon).

Posted at 64'

Joe Edwards (Walsall) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

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