AFC WIMBLEDON v COVENTRY CITY -- LEAGUE ONE 1st HOME GAME 11th AUGUST

The new season is underway in League One for the Dons. Our first home match of the season is against the 1987 FA Cup winners Coventry City who having been in somewhat of a decline recently came back up out of League Two last year via the Play Offs beating Exeter City 3-1 at Wembley. They are being well managed through these tough times by former Manchester United star Mark Robins as they continue their path back to former glories although suffered an opening day loss 2-1 at home to Scunthorpe United. Another club blighted by ownership and stadium issues so like us I do wish them well in getting all that sorted, although naturally will be looking to take three points off them today.  

Our opening game last weekend was a good 1-0 away win at Fleetwood Town, where I thought our new signings played them off the park and the scoreline should have been a lot more in our favour. How pleasing it was to see a more attacking display away from home and lets see if this can be maintained throughout this season.  

FORM GUIDE 
(Last 6 matches in their respective leagues, starting with most recent)
AFC Wimbledon -- WDDWDD
Coventry City -- LWWDDW





LAST TIME OUT

Fleetwood Town 0  AFC Wimbledon 1
Coventry City 1  Scunthorpe United 2

Updates will be published with team news and more news as and when it comes through. It's a quick return against his former club for new AFC Wimbledon signing Rod McDonald centre-back McDonald featured 41 times for the Sky Blues last season after joining from Northampton. The Dons starting XI is unchanged from last weekends opening win against Fleetwood and McDonald comes onto the bench.

Line Ups (confirmed);

AFC WIMBLEDON

Odds -- Evens (William Hill) 

King (GK),  Watson,  Oshilaja,  Nightingale,  Purrington,  Pinnock,  Soares,  Trotter,  Barcham,  Pigott,  Appiah

Subs – McDonnell (Gk),  Wagstaff,  Hartigan,  Garratt,  Hanson,  McDonald,  Wordsworth

COVENTRY CITY

Odds -- 11/5 (William Hill) 

O'Brien (Gk),  Sterling,  Davies,  Hyam,  Mason,  Doyle (c),  Ogogo,  Hiwula-Mayifuila,  Andreu,  Bayliss,  Bakayoko

Subs –  Burge (Gk),  Grimmer,  Kelly,  Biamou,  Brown, Ponticelli,  Shipley  

H/T Score – 0 - 0

First Half Comment;
The Dons have started the half well but not finding the net is still the problem carried over from last season. Coventry are very swift on the counter attack but as we reach the half way point of the first half of the match it's all square and it's not dull with both keepers called into action. The Dons still on top as the half ends, 66% possession, 5 corners to Coventry's 1, and more shots on target in this half than most of the games last season. Plenty of positives just no goals to show for it. 

F/T Score – 0 - 0

Match Summary;
Gutted not to collect three points here, played well but the final end product isn't there. Still four points from opening games and we're far from a struggling side that we were last year. I'm sure the moaners will complain that it's a bore draw but honestly it was anything but. Good turnout by the fans a shade under 4,800 is close to capacity in truth, cannot wait to move to a bigger ground. The ref was a bit rubbish and is probably a league higher than his level. 

My Man of the Match – Kwesi Appiah.

Referee -- Our referee for this afternoon's game is Lee Swabey from Devon, has been officiating in the lower leagues for a good few years now, not particularly card happy averages 3 per game and only the 1 red last year albeit mostly in League Two. 

Attendance – 4,768.

Next match:
Tuesday 14th August vs Portsmouth (Away)
EFL Carabao Cup R1 7:45pm