WIMBLEDON 0 Wanderers 1 CENTRE-BACKS come and go but Gudni Bergsson remains the rock on which Wanderers are building the defensive foundations for an increasingly convincing push for the Premiership.

At 35, he had planned to be back home with his family in Reykjavik putting his law degree to good use. Instead he is giving Sam Allardyce the satisfaction of knowing he didn't waste a single breath when he worked long and hard to persuade him to put his retirement on hold for a year.

Bergsson insists that thoughts of a further extension are "not on the agenda" but he'll surely be tempted into another rethink if he clinches a hat-trick of promotions.

Since making his debut as a substitute full-back in the 1995 Coca-Cola Cup Final, he has been a priceless asset; a man for all seasons, all teams and all situations - statesmanlike in triumph, dignified in defeat. In the twilight of his career he has rolled back the years with staggeringly consistent, vintage performances, using his vast experience and adaptability to forge partnerships - regardless of the man at his shoulder.

Six weeks ago it was Mark Fish; together they were arguably the most respected centre-back combination outside the Premiership. For the next five games it was Paul Warhurst. The transition was seamless; if anything, things improved. Three goals were conceded, Wanderers climbed to second in the table.

At Selhurst Park on Saturday, Colin Hendry moved in next door - another 35 year old determined to prove that advancing years are no handicap when you are fit, determined, enthusiastic and, of course, talented.

The result, after the Scotland captain took a few headers and tackles to get into his stride, was a clean sheet that set the scene for Dean Holdsworth, (who else?) to grab the glory with a breathtakingly ferocious, deadly accurate and stunningly decisive strike 13 minutes from the end of an unattractive but enormously important victory.

"Partners don't really bother me," Bergsson explained. "When you are experienced you should be able to form a good partnership - whoever you play alongside.

"Colin came in on Saturday and did an excellent job. He is very experienced too and a very good defender. And his arrival was well-timed because Paul Warhurst had to cover for Per Frandsen in midfield after Per got injured. That shows that the squad is very strong and that's good for the manager.

"We know we didn't play as well as we can but Wimbledon are always difficult to play against. They don't mess about and it wasn't pretty. It was a hard-fought battle but we got the three points and a clean sheet which, from a defensive point of view, is vital.

"It's very important to establish a good defensive unit and we are coming very close to achieving that. We definitely have something we can build on that will help us get the necessary points for promotion."

The fact that Hendry was still there at the end, slugging it out with John Hartson and Jason Euell, is a testimony in itself to the Scot's fitness and dedication. Frandsen's injury - he pulled a calf muscle in training on Thursday morning - put the new loan signing in the frame earlier than even he could have anticipated, having admitted himself that he was well short of match practice. He certainly wasn't expected to go the distance, not in an Alamo-like siege that was exhausting just to watch.

There wasn't much quality football to write home about (the pitch didn't help on that score) but there was a doggedness about Wanderers' defending.

They got lucky as the £5 million-rated Euell, in particular, squandered a succession of chances but they stuck to their task gallantly - John O'Kane keeping tabs on Par Karlsson while Robbie Elliott worked his pants off to prevent the dangerous Neil Ardley making too many inroads on the right.

Ironically, having been pushed 'forward' Warhurst's main contributions were in defence where he and the rest of the midfield became increasingly involved as the game wore on.

They'd been more of an attacking force in the first half, despite a major adjustment as Allardyce decided his 4-5-1/4-3-3 formation wasn't working and switched to 4-4-2 after just 29 minutes (Carsten Fredgaard being unlucky to be sacrificed on the tactical altar so soon after making his first start!). Ian Marshall and Ricardo Gardner went close and Kevin Nolan might have scored for the second game in a row if Kelvin Davis hadn't made an agile mid-air adjustment to turn his deflected shot round the post.

Brown and white signs littered around the area make Selhurst Park an easier ground to find these days and visitors this season have certainly found the Dons less daunting opponents than in previous years. In fairness, they didn't play like a side lacking in confidence after securing just one home win in 14 attempts but their finishing was woeful. Any striker would give up his last bacon butty for the number of chances that fell Euell's way - the most notable misses coming when he shot wide of an unguarded net in the first half and just after the break when he steered a peach of a cross from Damien Francis wide of an open goal!

There were occasions when Wanderers looked like buckling but each time individuals came to the rescue - Bergsson superbly shepherding Karlsson and Hartson away from the danger zone, Hendry hurling imself in front of Hartson's goalbound shot and Jussi Jaaskelainen making a crucial save from Francis when the dangerous young midielder looked certain to grab the equaliser.

Holdsworth admitted he wasn't 100 per cent match fit after his recent injury lay-off but that didn't stop him pestering Allardyce all week to include him in his starting line-up against his old club. Realistically, though, the old Crazy Gang member could only have dreamed he'd make such an impact as the Dons became the unlucky 13th victims of Wanderers' promotion push that is gaining momentum with every point that nudges them clear of the chasing pack.

The rigours of a hard first half had taken a toll on Marshall, who pulled out at half time with a thigh strain, and Holdsworth - always destined to play some part - was thrown into the fray. Rising to the occasion, he got involved wherever he could and earned his reward, "a sweet moment" as he put it.

Allardyce, delighted that Wanderers have reached the campaign's halfway mark with six away wins to their credit - just one fewer than they managed all last season, knows how hard it's going to be to keep a good man down.

"After that, Deano's close to starting in the next game," he said, praising his matchwinner. "He's putting pressure on me, making it more difficult for me to pick the side ... I like players like that!"