THE answer to how Wanderers can rediscover their promotion momentum might well lie somewhere on the stony paths and heather moorlands of the Yorkshire Moors.

One wonders whether Phil Parkinson’s dog has ever walked so far as it did last week, as the manager paced in contemplation trying to figure out his team for AFC Wimbledon.

Results, it must be said, were hardly conclusive.

The performance was definitely better than it had been against Bristol Rovers yet to say the Whites were looking anything like the side they were at Christmastime would be plain daft.

A trip to direct rivals Fleetwood comes into sight this week, so Parky’s pooch had better get prepared to do the hard yards.

This is not the right time of season to be a team in transition, and yet that is where Wanderers find themselves. All the hallmarks of their earlier form were there on Saturday – David Wheater commanding at the back, Josh Vela showing lung-bursting energy in the middle and Gary Madine causing problems for the Dons’ defence on his return to the team, taking his ninth goal of the season very well indeed.

The trouble is that without the midfield bite of Jay Spearing the team seems to have a soft underbelly, and stripped of the quality of Zach Clough and Sammy Ameobi, it is still learning ‘another way’ to win games.

Of the new additions, Filipe Morais has been a real plus. The consistency of his delivery from out wide is excellent and he is really going above and beyond for his former Bradford City boss. Others are still feeling their way, and that is putting it mildly.

Nerves are fraying around the Macron, as you could hear from the disgruntled murmur at half time after Tom Elliott had equalised, and then at full time when another two points had passed Wanderers by.

If you needed any evidence that emotions are on the surface, then Vela’s online exchanges with fans’ blog Lion of Vienna suggest the dressing room knows what is at stake too.

The midfielder had been one of Wanderers’ best performers on the day and yet, speaking on behalf of the dressing room, he left people in no doubt that ‘the lads’ were unhappy with how they were being treated.

If, as Vela suggests, there is undue negativity coming from certain sections of the support – then I suggest Parkinson harnesses that quickly. Creating a siege mentality might just bring out the extra five to 10 per cent in his squad that has been lacking.

Ken Anderson even did his bit prior to kick off, making a rare address to the players before kick off in the hope he could spark a reaction.

For the first 20 minutes the plan worked perfectly. Wheater had a header saved at point blank range by James Shea before Madine produced a stunning header from Morais’ corner to put his side into the lead.

Conspiracies had echoed around the Macron since the striker was dropped from the squad at Bramall Lane but in those early stages, Madine showed exactly why the team had missed him so much.

Quite inexplicably, Wanderers switched off midway through the half and started to coast.

Far from the kick-and-rush style of their old incarnation, Wimbledon used the ball economically and started to suffocate the Whites. In George Francomb they have a very handy midfielder, twinned with the physical and potent attack of Elliott and Dom Poleon.

Wanderers got a warning shot when Andy Taylor made a fine block on Francomb’s goal-bound shot and Ben Alnwick – back in the side for Mark Howard – rushed out to get an important block on Poleon’s shot on the turn.

An equaliser was on the cards and Elliott supplied it with another good header, climbing above Dorian Dervite to head into the bottom corner.

Frenchman Dervite had not started a game for the Whites since last February and though his comeback was not without its faults, there were signs he has a role to play in the run-in.

Having Dervite at centre-back meant Derik Osede and Tom Thorpe were pushed into midfield, and there in lay the problem for Parkinson. Rather like his predecessor, Dougie Freedman, the centre of his midfield was weighted defensively and though Vela did his best to fill in the gaps – this was definitely the area exploited by the visitors.

Wanderers did pick up again in the second half. Morais had a fine free kick touched onto the bar by Shea and also had another curling effort pushed away by the former Arsenal stopper. Thorpe and Vela also sent shots whistling just past the post and bar.

The best chance of all to secure a win fell to Morais with 10 minutes to go. Vela did well to win the ball back for sub James Henry and his low cross was touched back deftly by Madine into the winger’s path. His performance had been worth a goal – but sadly football doesn’t work like that and his shot went high into the travelling fans.

On chances created, Wanderers could count themselves unlucky. But that word might as well be banned from the dressing room for the run-in.

Yes, Parkinson’s side have had a lion’s share of injuries, illnesses and suspensions which have eaten into a slim, embargo-affected squad. They will not, however, be factored into the final league table.

Whatever anyone else thinks, what factors have led the club to this point, or what twists and turns lie ahead – the responsibility of gaining promotion lies on the shoulders of the players who take to the pitch, no one else.

Parkinson will know that as he trudges up and down his dale this week looking for a way to coax more out of a team that needs inspiration.