Boro sent packing by plucky Dons

It meant that Premiership Boro had to work hard to create opportunities. They were content to hit long balls and avoid playing it around on a heavy tiring pitch and with typical Venables thoroughness he had prepared them for an evening of hard work.

Inevitably, it was Paul Ince who was behind one of Boro's most enterprising attacks, he won the ball, moved it quickly and when Hamilton Ricard crossed from the left it was too close to goalkeeper Kelvin Davis who had performed so well in the draw at The Riverside last week.

But Wimbledon are nothing if not persistent and after 24 minutes it needed a blocking tackle by Ugo Ehiogu to stop a forceful run and shot from Damien Francis.

Then Boro broke down the left and a loose ball was put back into the box by Curtis Fleming for Phil Stamp to head firmly at Davis. As Boro sought a way through Dean Gordon and Ince worked a clever free kick that Wimbledon were forced to scramble

don kept building attacks, seeking a way through but Boro's discipline and keen tackling made sure that Mark Schwarzer was relatively untroubled.

Then seconds before the interval, Boro scored with a simply constructed goal that shone like a jewel amid the mediocrity of the previous 44 minutes.

Ince passed to Ricard on the edge of the area and the Colombia striker half turned before driving home a fine shot.

But Wimbledon were far from finished. Euell, who has scored 14 times for the club this season, let rip a right-foot shot. Clearly, manager Terry Burton had told them during the interval to go out and save the game and they raised the tempo.

Boro needed to tackle hard as Wimbledon continued to look dangerous. Next it was substitute Neal Ardley who had a clear shot on goal but he was too far out to cause Schwarzer any trouble and the goalkeeper fielded his 25-yard drive comfortably.

However, after 76 minutes Wimbledon's hard work was rewarded when Ehiogu pushed Euell off the ball and referee Mike Dean awarded a penalty that Ardley drove into the roof of the net.