Football: Dons' deflected glory

Wimbledon 2 Roberts 14, Hughes 62 Leicester City 1 Savage 57 Atte ndance: 13,229

MIDFIELDER Andy Roberts set Wimbledon on their way to a hard-earned win over Leicester at Selhurst Park yesterday which eased their relegation worries. It was his first goal for the club in only his second game since a pounds 1.6m move from Crystal Palace.

Roberts gave Wimbledon the lead in the 14th minute with a deflected strike and although Robbie Savage pulled a goal back for the visitors 12 minutes into the second half after an error by goalkeeper Neil Sullivan, Michael Hughes wrapped up a much-needed victory just five minutes later. The defeat was a setback to Leicester's hopes of earning a Uefa Cup place.

Roberts' first goal of the season - after failing to score in 30 games at Palace - helped secure one of the three victories that the Wimbledon manager, Joe Kinnear, has said his team still needs to be safe from the drop.

They had only a missed header from Carl Leaburn to show for their early efforts before Roberts struck. His 20-yard shot was deflected in off the foot of Leicester's Theo Zagorakis as the Greek midfielder tried to tackle him.

Leicester recalled striker Steve Claridge from a loan spell at Portsmouth to partner Emile Heskey and although they had the first chance when Sullivan parried a shot from Heskey, it was not until Savage's goal after 57 minutes that they got back on level terms.

Savage benefited from Sullivan's mistake in dropping a hanging free-kick by Steve Guppy and as the keeper struggled to recover, the Leicester defender turned and struck the ball into the far corner.

Wimbledon were ahead again after 62 minutes. Zagorakis failed to tackle Marcus Gayle and heslipped the ball across the box to the unmarked Hughes, who finished with a first-time shot.