Football: Shipperley adds finish to fortune

Wimbledon 1 Gayle 79 Nottingham Forest 3 Rogers 21, Freedman 59, Shipperley 84 Half-time: 0-1 Attendance: 12,149

JUST WHEN it seemed that Big Ron might as well be Little Voice for all the good his managerial experience was doing Nottingham Forest, his latest charges secured a crucially important victory yesterday. It may prove to be of minimal significance because they are still six points adrift and bereft of sufficient quality in key areas, but they showed at last that they will not depart the Premiership without a struggle.

If the win was what mattered, Atkinson will have been further heartened that it was eventually achieved with a combination of resourceful defending, an art they looked to have shed completely not so long ago, and purposeful counter-attacking. They were helped in both regards by a performance from Wimbledon which grew in its ineptitude and contradicted their characteristic qualities of rigid organisation and fighting spirit. It emphasised how much they miss the presence of their manager, Joe Kinnear, who is recovering at home from a heart attack.

Atkinson, of course, is a similarly boisterous figure in attempting to implore his side to greater effort and he needed all his experience in this territory in the opening 20 minutes. He has apparently lost his voice but could be seen screaming mutely at the team to do more. With justification, too, because they looked lethargic and dangerously exposed at the back.

The Dons might have led within five minutes as first a shot and then a header were pushed wide by the Forest goalkeeper Mark Crossley. They continued to enjoy territorial advantage but John Hartson, their pounds 7.5m signing from West Ham, has clearly not settled yet. He is brave and strong but has still to claim his first goal.

Still, Forest were belaboured in counter-attacking and there looked to be minimal danger when Alan Rogers drifted in from the left after 21 minutes. He looked up to assess his options and seemed to settle for a cross. It went across the face of the goal, hit the inside of the far post and went in.

If it was indeed fortuitous it was exactly what Forest required. Both sides were transformed. Forest were now full of intent; Wimbledon, in contrast, were lackadaisical. Dougie Freedman, who might have increased their lead twice, eventually did so with a well-judged chip from Matthieu Louis-Jean's long ball.

The lead was one thing, the source of their inspiration another. Pierre van Hooijdonk, surprisingly playing in midfield, grew into the role as the match progressed. He delivered two precise balls for the swiftly advancing Rogers but twice the full-back was denied.

When Marcus Gayle scored from a 12-yard volley with 11 minutes left it seemed that Forest might yet throw it away. But Van Hooijdonk supplied one final telling pass to Neil Shipperley, who pushed the ball beyond Sullivan. It was his first goal in 11 games for the club. When Big Ron reclaims his voice he will doubtless tell Shipperley he needs a few more quickly.