Yesterday's biggest talking point is perhaps the red card and actions in the aftermath reaction by Alassana Jatta.
There's zero defence for the lung, even if he did win the ball. Two-footed challenges, with studs showing and from behind, is incredibly dangerous. A red card is the outcome for it, but it was all in the heat of the moment. I don't think Stuart Maynard should have mentioned the shirt pulling, as the way he framed it, it was as if it caused him to lunge for the ball.
Jatta just lost his head in the heat of the occasion.
What I noticed was the sudden confrontation of Wimbledon players speaking to the referee, and interfering with his decision. Jatta never made contact with the Wimbledon player, but he still went down as if he had been shot. Rich from Chud Photography mentioned to me that he thought the Dons player landed awkwardly. I wasn't sure, and I still don't think he had anything wrong with him.
It was clear Jatta should be given a red for the challenge.
However, the AFC Wimbledon players tried to cause a melee. They attempted to provoke several of our players, including Jatta. All with the intent that they knew cards could go flying from the official.
At the very least, the player who simulated the foul should have been given a yellow card for diving. Although I believe it should have been red, as he clearly deliberately tried to fool the referee into thinking contact had been made. Now, this won't change the outcome, but it is worth seeing people's talking points.
The referee made the right call to red card Jatta, how he left the field was a clear sign that he had lost his head and these things happen. What makes it worse is how some of the AFC Wimbledon slyly lash out at Jatta. Some of the comments clearly were made to provoke him, but others made comments to the likes of Jodi Jones and Jacob Bedaeu in hope of gaining a response.
Rod McDonald deserves a lot of credit for taking Jatta away from the situation; his judgement was right.
Jatta was fouled, leading to the incident which saw him see red, but several cards should have been issued to Wimbledon players. The referee was largely inconsistent with both teams, but the second half did see a lot of antics from Wimbledon to sway things in their favour.
Unfortunately, I come back to Stuart Maynard, who could have better protected his players. I am not a Maynard out, however, changes were needed going into the second half. I believe Jatta should have been one of the earlier subs, with Will Jarvis coming on earlier. I would have pushed David McGoldrick up top. There were signs that the importance of the occasion was frustrating Jatta, and his performance wasn't that great that we had to keep him on the field. This might seem harsh, but I honestly feel Maynard bottles his changes and waits far too long for any of them to really make an impact.
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@menzinho Platt made the most appearances for Notts this season with 47. He was featured in every poll in the matches he played.
He was very consistent & he did get votes from the members, but there was always another player who's performance stood out on the day.
That game Jevani Brown won, he was incredible and by far his best performance for us. Unfortunately, it was against Alfreton Town if my memory serves me and when Matty Platt has been exceptional, he's completed against others. 😞
It was against Alfreton. Jevani scored two goals & played superbly.
Of course it was against non league opposition, but he did show that evening what he was capable of.