AFC WIMBLEDON v SUNDERLAND -- LEAGUE ONE 25th AUGUST

This weekend the Dons will play host to the mighty Sunderland who are the big fish in this league for the season (sorry Bradford you are a small team again now). Will be a big test of our promising early season form against a side expected to go straight back up into the Championship after a few seasons in decline. Under new ownership, supposed to be debt free now and a new manager they've already made an excellent start to life in League One. Sunderland maintained their unbeaten start to the League One season as three first-half goals enabled them to claim a comprehensive victory over Scunthorpe last Sunday afternoon. Max Power, Josh Maja and Chris Maguire were all on target before the break as Jack Ross' side outlined their promotion credentials following last season's relegation from the Championship. They followed that up with a thumping 4-1 win against Gillingham on Wednesday night.

Much like Coventry who we played recently they are another club blighted by ownership, debt and management issues in recent years although they appear to be stable once more and will be favs to go back up immediately 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. Also looking to make a trip up to the North East next year to see the Dons play the return fixture and have a weekend away with friends up there but back to the game this weekend.   

Our opening games have seen us remain unbeaten but that was soon put right by Walsall who won 1-3 on Tuesday night and although not scoring freely we do create plenty of chances and prior to Tuesday night have only conceded in the League Cup against Portsmouth. Our new signings appear to have settled in well and I had been impressed with the keeper and defence who up till then had kept clean sheets in the league. However as a result of the midweek loss we are in 11th place going into the Sunderland game.  

FORM GUIDE 
(Last 6 matches in their respective leagues, starting with most recent)
AFC Wimbledon -- LDDWDD
Sunderland -- WWDWWL







LAST TIME OUT

AFC Wimbledon 1  Walsall 3
Gillingham 1  Sunderland 4

Updates will be published with team news and more news as and when it comes through. Game is all ticket and expected to be sold out. 

Line Ups (confirmed);

AFC WIMBLEDON

Odds -- 3/1 (William Hill) 

King (Gk),  Sibbick,  Purrington,  Oshilaja (c),  Nightingale,  Pinnock,  Wordsworth,  Trotter,  Barcham,  Hanson,  Pigott

Subs – McDonnell (Gk),  Thomas,  Hartigan,  Garratt,  Burey,  McDonald,  Wagstaff

SUNDERLAND  
Odds -- 11/10 (William Hill) 

McLaughlin (Gk),  Love,  Loovens,  Baldwin,  James,  Cattermole,  Power,  Gooch,  Honeyman (c),  Maguire,  Maja

Subs –  Ruiter (Gk),  Ozturk,  O'Nien,  Oviedo,  McGeoch,  Embleton,  Mumba  

H/T Score – 1 - 0

First Half Comment;
Kicked off and we are on the front foot immediately, creating chances which gives results in the ninth minutes Joe Pigott converts a right footed shot from the centre of the box and it's 1-0 to the Dons. Chances either end during the course of the opening half and couple of shouts for a penalty for the Dons too but we never seem to get these now. Still leading with 20 till half time and the home side on top which is nice. Sunderland are resorting to long range shots from outside the box and these are either wide or easily saved by King.

F/T Score – 1 - 2

Match Summary;
We blew that. So on top in the opening hour of the game, concede a stupid goal after 66 mins when Lee Catermole was allowed room to score in the box, this was made twice as bad in the final few mins when the same player to was given freedom to repeat the feat and see us throw the game away, a game we actually dominated but just don't have a goalscorer to put these chances away, frustrating because the team is working hard and the results are not coming. 

My Man of the Match – Lee Catermole (took his chances when they came, our front line should learn from that).

Referee -- Our referee for this afternoon's big game has been confirmed as John Busby from Oxfordshire, appears to be a well established official and not afraid to dish out some cards. Hopefully he'll be a homer, we could do with all the help we can get. 

Attendance – 4,848.

Next match:
Tuesday 28th August vs West Ham United (Home)
EFL Carabao Cup R2 7:45pm