We’re probably not going to win promotion this season.

We’re not out of it yet. We’re six points behind Newport with eight games left to play. On paper, we’re still in contention.

But realistically, it’s probably not going to happen for us. We never quite replaced the goals that Matt Tubbs took with him to Portsmouth.

Adebayo Akinfenwa has been a massive boost for us, but he can only do so much. Meanwhile, Craig Tanner still has a lot of work to do, and David Connolly retired.

We just don’t quite have enough gas in the tank or power under the hood to get into play-off contention. Not this season.

What other Dons fans are reading:

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And that’s okay. The main priority was always staying up, and we’re nearly guaranteed to do that.

With 15 points between us and the relegation zone, it would take an incredible implosion before we’d have another last day of the season like we had two years ago.

We’re good enough to stay in, but not quite good enough to go up. So what does that make the rest of the season about?

Wimbledon Times:

Beastly strides: Adebayo Akinfenwa scores in the 2-1 FA Cup defeat to Liverpool in January

We’ve never finished above 16th in League Two. I personally dislike moral victories in sport, but finishing higher than that would certainly be a good note to finish on.

A 12th place finish (where we’re at now) or a little higher, combined with our accomplishments earlier in the season- beating the franchise, getting to the third round of the FA Cup - would make for a good and productive season. It would also, critically, show that Wimbledon is moving in the right direction under Neal Ardley.

A strong mid-table finish, bolstered by extra Cup revenue, a renewed sense of optimism, and (hopefully) a new stadium in the works, would give the fans reason for loftier ambitions next season.