'We weren't aware driving up': AFC Wimbledon boss makes claim after Sunderland's COVID-19 outbreak

AFC Wimbledon boss Glyn Hodges claims that he only became aware of Sunderland’s COVID-19 outbreak upon arrival at the Stadium of Light.
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But the 57-year-old praised the way his players handled the change in circumstances as they earned a point courtesy of a 1-1 draw.

Sunderland were without eight key players for the visit of the Dons after one senior player returned a positive test after developing symptoms on Sunday – with seven more then having to self-isolate as a result.

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The game was not postponed after the EFL could not give the Black Cats clarity over any potential sanctions that may have been imposed, with head coach Lee Johnson hitting out at the governing body post-match.

Glyn HodgesGlyn Hodges
Glyn Hodges

And Hodges has revealed that his side weren’t aware of the gravity of the situation en route to Wearside.

“It was only when we got to the ground that we realised,” he said, speaking to Wimbledon’s official website.

"It was all over Twitter, all over social media that there was an outbreak here of COVID.

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“We weren’t aware of that driving up and this morning – and I’m sure they wouldn’t have let us come this far if we weren’t going to play the game.

"It was a question of maybe they made a few changes, and it does affect the team.

"But they still put out a very strong side, and it’s one that we did well to play against.”

The Dons had taken the lead at the Stadium of Light courtesy of Joe Pigott’s first-half penalty, only for Bailey Wright’s fine strike in the second half to ensure the spoils were shared.

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But it could have been more for the visitors, who were only denied by the woodwork late in the game, leaving Hodges delighted with a ‘tremendous’ away display.

"I’d go a bit further than very good, I thought it was tremendous.

"To a man, they carried out the way we wanted to play and understood what was asked of them.

"To come to a place like this and to be disappointed that you haven’t got three points is a testament to how they played.”

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