FA CUP 3rd ROUND -- WIMBLEDON vs SUTTON SAT 7th JANUARY 2017

It's FA CUP THIRD ROUND Day this weekend and the recent draw has given us another away trip to non league opposition. Thankfully not too far this time across London to SUTTON UNITED. Would be good to have a decent cup run this season and this tie against National League opponents gives us a great chance to make it through to the fourth round, historically it is also significant as Sutton were our first ever opponents when we had to reform as AFC Wimbledon of course we hope that the scoreline is not a 4-0 defeat this time around. 

PREVIOUS MEETING
Sutton 4 AFC Wimbledon 0 
(Wednesday 10 July 2002)
We didn't play them in our non leagues days as they were relegated in the 2008 season as we were promoted from the Ryman Premier so it's our first proper meeting since 2002. 

FORM GUIDE (Last 6 in league, starting with most recent)
AFC Wimbledon -- LLWLDD
Sutton United -- WLWLWL


LAST TIME OUT
Sutton United 2  Bromley 0
AFC Wimbledon 2  Millwall 2

Being drawn against Sutton again is significant for the Dons as they supplied our first opponents in a friendly after our reformation in 2002. The game is already sold out so we have a full contingent of Dons fans going again to cheer on the boys in Yellow and Blue to more FA Cup glory.


Our boys have been struggling in the league a little of late, defeats to Southend and Bristol Rovers over Christmas means we are mid-table in the league but the Cup is another matter and we need to be on our game to see off Sutton, who I am sure will up their game against us and come here off the back of a 2-0 home win against Bromley in the National League where they currently lie 14th. We don't really want to see a repeat of the opening 80 minutes against Curzon Ashton in the last round although the last 10 minutes did come good for us, I'm not sure my nerves can handle being 3-0 down again to another non league side. The Dons will be wary of ex player Matt Tubbs who will surely lead the attack for Sutton and could still be a handful given an opportunity, but you would expect our experience and speed to be too much for them over 90 mins (he says). 

Updates will be published with team news and more as and when it comes through. 

Line Ups (Confirmed);

AFC WIMBLEDON

Odds -- 10/11 (William Hill) 

Shea (Gk),  Fuller (c),  Charles,  Robinson,  Kelly,  Parrett,  Reeves,  Bulman,  Barcham,  Taylor,  Elliott

Subs – McDonnell (Gk),  Francomb,  Poleon,  Barnett,  Egan,  Owens,  Robertson

SUTTON UNITED
Odds -- 5/2 (William Hill) 

Worner (Gk), Downer, Collins, Beckwith, Amankwaah, Deacon, Bailey, Eastmond, Gomis, Tubbs, Biamou

Subs – Shaw (Gk), John, Hudson-Odoi, Fitchett, May, Spence, Monakana

 
H/T Score – 0 - 0

First Half Comment;
A quiet first half of football really although some half chances fall to either side and most notably Matty Tubbs is making a nuisance of himself for Sutton but it's still all square and can surely only improve. 

Jake Reeves (Wimbledon) and Simon Downer (Sutton) each pick up a booking too and that's about it for the opening 45 mins.

F/T Score – 0 - 0

Match Summary;
Yawn. Wow after the exciting game in the previous round this was dull. A full house at Gander Green Lane were treated to a boring 0-0 and the home supporters must have been disappointed not to have won really as they were clearly the more productive side over the 90 mins. 

So a replay in a little over a week back at Kingsmeadow on a cold / wet Jan evening it is then, I guess we might be excited by a possible 4th round tie depending on how the draw goes on Monday night.


My Man of the Match – James Shea.

Referee -- Our referee for this important third round FA Cup tie is Keith Stroud from Bournemouth. He's a proud fan of Luton Town but we shouldn't hold that against him, a very experienced referee we should be in safe hands.

Attendance – 5.200.

Next match:
vs OXFORD UNITED (Home)
Football League One 3:00pm