Bradford's recent run of form has taken them to within two points of the Dons and the two meet at Valley Parade this Sunday afternoon. A real nail-biter is on the cards, Valley Parade will be no place for the faint-hearted or those of a nervous disposition. On paper at least the current form would seem to favour the home side. In recent weeks the Bantams have been showing the sort of fighting spirit which used to be Wimbledon's trademark - chasing every-

thing and not giving up until the final whistle.

The bloody-minded defiance of all the odds was there for all to see in the Sunderland game with the eventual winner coming as late as the 90th minute when defender John Dreyer nipped in to head home a cheeky goal.

By contrast Wimbledon at Tottenham showed all the enthusiasm of a seven stone weakling facing up to 12 rounds with Mike Tyson. Not that Spurs were all that good. The sad fact was that they didn't need to be.

Former Dons' goalkeeper Hans Segers, who was an integral part of the old Crazy Gang for eight seasons and now coaches at Tottenham, summed up the sorry situation.

"You look at the players and you see the spirit it not there. My impression is that this is not the Wimbledon I used to know. It has completely changed," the Dutchman said.

"There is no spirit and I cannot see any system in the way they play. The only time they ever seem to score is from set pieces. Before the club survived on spirit and determination."

Segers added: "Sam Hammam saw what was happening and lost his appetite, and finally sold all his shares. It seems to have happened to the players now. Once they were feared by everybody. Now opposing teams know they will take three points."

Segers might also have mentioned the inestimable role played by ex-manager Joe Kinnear in keeping the Crazy Gang Show on the road. For the record, since Kinnear's heart attack last year the Dons have played 46 games and won just seven of them.

Despite his remarkable successes with the Norwegian national side, there can be little argument that Joe's successor Egil Olsen must shoulder a great deal of the blame for the ongoing slump.

A member of the current squad explained the contrast in managerial styles. "In the old days if you were down at half time Joe would come into the dressing room and shout and swear a bit and maybe change the game plan or make a substitution. Now it is all very quiet and we are told just to play to stick to the system."

That must make sense to the outsider. The Olsen philosophy would appear to be that his master plan is the right one and carved in tablets of stone. The fault always lies with the poor foot soldiers for failing to obey their orders.

Indeed that is what would have appeared to have happened at Tottenham on Saturday. Simple goals from Chris Armstrong and Darren Anderton had exposed serious weaknesses at the back, but there was no obvious move from the bench to stem the breach in the dyke.

But don't blame the goalkeeper. In the second half Neil Sullivan was in his best international form as the irrepressible David Ginola directed most of the traffic towards the Wimbledon goal. What a snip Sullivan is going to be for someone when he leaves the Dons on a free transfer at the end of the season.

And while all manner of names are being put forward for the Player of the Year title, I would have to say that the 33-year-old Frenchman has given me as much pleasure as any during the present campaign.

Such silky skills are unlikely to be on parade at Bradford. Much more likely is a display to delight connoisseurs of old fashioned blood and thunder football with crashing tackles.

That is if Wimbledon are capable of playing such a game.

Come back Vinnie Jones and the old ghetto blaster, all is forgiven!

DONS SHORTS

Earle injury: All best wishes must go out to Wimbledon skipper Robbie Earle whose season has come to an abrupt end following a freak injury. The 35-year-old Jamaican international was kicked in the stomach during a reserve game at Vicarage Road, Watford, and a routine hospital check revealed internal bleeding.

He has since undergone two blood transfusions. It is an unfortunate end to what has not been the happiest of times for the popular Robbie.

For some reason or other he has not been fitting into the Olsen plans and was struggling for a first-team place. And there is talk that come the summer he will be off to take up a player/manager position in the First Division. In addition he has a promising media career to fall back on.

Homeward bound: The most intriguing football story of the week comes from the distant West African republic of Liberia whose president Charles Taylor is something of a football nut. So much so that he ordered his entire cabinet to attend the country's World Cup qualifier against Chad. The presidential orders read: "Any government minister who is not at the field that day will be in trouble."

A similar edict to members of Merton Council would not be out of place as Wimbledon and their small but super-loyal band of supporters continue to pursue the dream of a home back in SW19. If the Norwegians can get the Dons away from Selhurst they will be guaranteed a standing ovation.