Ardley's men off the mark
Rashid Yussuff inspired AFC Wimbledon to their first win under new manager Neal Ardley as 10-man Bristol Rovers' three-match unbeaten run was ended with a 3-1 defeat at Kingsmeadow.
The Dons went ahead when Garry Kenneth turned the ball past his own keeper Neil Etheridge, before Yussuff curled home to make it two.
Will Antwi nodded in a Yussuff free-kick before the break and, although Tom Eaves pegged a goal back for Rovers, Tom Parkes' second yellow card ended their comeback bid.
Kenneth's own-goal came after 19 minutes following good work from Byron Harrison, before Yussuff's finish from George Francomb's pass.
After 32 minutes the hosts netted their third, Antwi heading home Yussuff's free-kick before the influential former Gillingham midfielder struck the post in the 54th minute and Jack Midson missed two good opportunities to extend AFC Wimbledon's lead.
Rovers pulled a goal back after 72 minutes when Eaves netted superbly from 25 yards, firing into the top corner after Curtis Osano had dallied on the ball.
As the clock ticked down, Parkes was shown a second yellow for fouling Midson with eight minutes to go having brought Harrison down in the first half, with the Dons claiming just their second home win of the season.
Source: PA
