Prior to watching their second successive goalless draw at home, Wimbledon's fans were handed a leaflet that will give them renewed hope for the season. It was not the announcement of a move back to Morden or news of a signing, but a guide to the Independent Supporters' Association.

Alongside the dates for the diary was an invitation to meet with others at Madame Cholet's Therapy Sessions on Thursday evenings at the Prince of Wales pub. After a bleak start to a season in which patience and resources have already been stretched to the limit, mutual reassurance will be vital if the fans are to remember they are wombles.

Terry Burton's first task after watching his players again fail to open their goal account for the season was to cobble together a squad for today's visit to Preston. Ten first-team players were missing for Saturday's game and another, Alan Kimble, was injured during it.

It was no surprise, then, to hear John Hartson, who made his first start of the season after suspension, play down the chances of the club winning an immediate return to the Premiership. Whereas Watford bolstered their promotion hopes in the preseason by spending £3.5m on Allan Nielsen and Espen Baardsen, Wimbledon have sold £16.25m worth of players and spent only £1.5m. Jason Euell is likely to leave too, with the possible arrival of Richard Dunne from Everton the one straw for Wimbledon's fans to clutch at.

The Dons' midfield on Saturday contained a 17-year-old debutant in Lionel Morgan and the 33-year-old Michael Thomas, who was later replaced by Ian Selley, another Arsenal old boy. It is hardly the stuff to stimulate optimism.

Hartson was the last player to score for Wimbledon in a competitive match, on the final day of last season, but he was ineffectual against Watford's Darren Ward on Saturday. Indeed the visitors looked likely to maintain their 100% start to the season with an energetic first-half display during which Wimbledon's goalkeeper Kelvin Davis kept his side in touch with acrobatic saves from Tommy Mooney and Neil Cox. The longer the game went on, the longer Wimbledon's passes became, and the reversion to type seemed to work, Marcus Gayle twice hitting the woodwork.

"If nobody scores next week they will all have to go to the opera," Burton threatened afterwards. Pre-performance drinks should perhaps not be taken at the Prince of Wales.

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