McCall now has a clear target

12:06pm Sunday 27th April 2008

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City 1, MK Dons 2

Stuart McCall has perfect 20/20 vision when he views next season - and he can see a bright future.

The gaffer admitted he was a jealous on-looker as MK Dons dived into their title celebrations at Valley Parade on Saturday.

But the sight of the bubbly spraying around the away dressing room just made McCall all the more adamant that he will be uncorking the champagne 12 months from now.

He has come a long way since that brash first-day declaration that anything less than promotion would represent failure. Having learned plenty about the job and himself, he cannot wait to put that knowledge into practice next time.

McCall admitted: "I had a blind optimism when I came in and a blind vision but now I've got a clear one. I know exactly what is needed.

"When you hear the celebrations from MK Dons and see the celebrations going on, it makes you want to do that even more.

"You look at the standing ovation our supporters gave the players at the end of the game. If we can give them what the MK Dons have for their fans, then this place will really be rocking.

"That's my goal and I'm really looking forward to bringing more quality to the squad - but we've also got players in this team now who will be good for us next season."

Plenty of the current squad still do not know if they will be on board but their wait is nearly over, with McCall planning to make decisions on the out-of-contract brigade this week.

One big name, of course, that won't be on the team sheet in August is David Wetherall, whose presence on the Valley Parade pitch for the final time cranked up the atmosphere another notch or two.

It was anything but an end-of-season encounter but that is just how Wetherall would have liked it.

He may have joked in the build-up at the prospect of being "rather busy" on his home swansong but the defender clearly relished the occasion against the most devastating away side in the country.

The response of the crowd was magnificent from the moment he appeared to an excellent guard of honour from the teams.

Football gets a bad name for lacking respect but there was nothing wrong with the mutual appreciation shown on both sides to Wetherall's big day, as well as the Dons' coronation as champions. The banner at the away end to mark the fire disaster was another well-appreciated touch.

The gloves were off when the game began - never more so than the incident which saw Joe Colbeck sent packing after 38 minutes.

It was difficult on first glance to see how much of it was down to the winger's red mist or the panicky reaction from first-year referee Karl Evans.

The Manchester official looked intimidated at times by his surroundings, jumping on some incidents while letting others go.

There was certainly a degree of petulance about the way Colbeck flew into Dean Lewington just a couple of minutes after a previous clash between the pair. His foot was raised but he maintained to his manager that it was an attempt to block the ball which was a fraction late.

Lewington's view was not so supportive after he stayed down in a heap for several minutes while City's player of the year was condemned to the long walk. It was a sour end to what had been a memorable week.

With MK Dons 2-0 up at the time, Colbeck's departure could have killed the game. Instead it got it going and City seemed galvanised as the odds stacked up against them.

They should not have been so far adrift. The opening stages saw the teams create two decent chances apiece and the fact that the visitors cashed in both times and City didn't just underlines their respective league standings.

The Dons' appearance in a Liverpool-like all red looked fitting, considering Wetherall's greatest day in City colours.

And just like that final home game eight years ago, City should have got off to a flyer as Barry Conlon outmuscled Jude Stirling on the end of a long free-kick. But instead of firing across the goal, he went for the near post and almost broke the side-netting.

MK Dons instantly punished his wastefulness. Their skipper Keith Andrews, described by McCall as the best player in the division, tested Scott Loach's reflexes before winger Lloyd Dyer left Colbeck trailing and whipped in a lethal cross which was bundled home by the giant Stirling.

City responded enthusiastically and forced four corners in two minutes. Again they had a golden chance to score but Kyle Nix scuffed at it from close range.

It came back to haunt them within 60 seconds as the Dons scored a second which had McCall tearing at his hair in frustration.

He had drilled his team about the threat of Stirling's long throw-ins, regarded as the biggest in the league.

The message was clear - it had even been written large on the wipe board in the dressing room. So why did nobody react when he unleashed a missile into the penalty area?

Instead, the back four seemed transfixed as the ball came soaring in and Dyer was allowed free access for a side-foot volley beside the penalty spot.

It was a shocking goal to concede and knocked the stuffing out of the home side. For a while MK Dons looked in total control, treating it as an FA Cup tie where the higher-division team had snuffed out the underdog resistance.

Something had to happen to shake up City and the red card to Colbeck was like a red rag to a bull for his affronted team-mates.

Omar Daley switched sides to the right and then delivered a timely goal on the stroke of half-time. There was a bit of fortune about the build-up as Danny Swailes cannoned a clearance against Nix but take nothing away from the finish.

Daley has had a rough time of it recently and there was plenty of room for error as he cut inside towards the box. The Jamaican twice could have opted to shoot earlier than he did but he kept his head and waited before slotting home with his left foot.

Individual and collective confidence soared as Paul Ince's men suddenly realised they had a game on their hands. It set the scene for a second half that flowed from one end to the other.

We nearly had the storybook finish with Wetherall's looping header which was blocked on the line by Andrews. Then the skipper had another effort which he could only guide wide.

But the Dons also had their chances to rubber-stamp a record 18th away win - none more so than the bizarre miss from Aaron Wilbraham 15 minutes from time.

It was one of those comedy moments as Loach rolled the ball along the floor, blissfully unaware that Wilbraham was behind him.

The warning from the crowd came too late, the former City loan striker nipping the ball away from the panic-stricken keeper and whipping off a first-time shot at the empty goal.

For a second or two, time stood still as the whole ground watched the ball fly goalwards - and crash against the bar before rebounding straight back into the disbelieving Loach's arms.

Dons substitute John Miles beat the keeper near the end but saw Darren Williams block on the line and then Mark Bower blew a great opportunity to level from Paul Heckingbottom's long throw. Having ghosted in to the far post unnoticed, Bower knocked it over the bar from six yards out.

Cue the MK Dons party at the final whistle and a last emotional lap of honour for Wetherall. Now McCall is planning his own celebrations for 2009.

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