FA CUP FOURTH ROUND -- AFC WIMBLEDON vs WEST HAM UNITED SATURDAY 26th JANUARY 2019

The FA Cup comes into town once again with the 4th round now upon us, and having beaten Fleetwood Town 3-2 in round three the mighty Dons have progressed into round four of the FA Cup for the first time since being resurrected in 2002. We have drawn a home fixture and face Premier League opposition in the shape of West Ham United. This tie has also been selected for Live TV broadcast and will now be on BT Sport on Saturday night with the kick off planned for 19:45 the additional revenue from this live appearance is most welcome in our current predicament.

Premier League West Ham currently sit in 10th place and even if they play a second string it will still be full of Internationals and top academy players. We've played them in the League Cup earlier in the season losing 1-3 at home but that was a strong Hammers side that day and we lost a player to an early red card which didn't help.

FORM GUIDE (Last 6 matches in their respective leagues, starting with the most recent result)
      AFC Wimbledon  --  LLDLDW
      West Ham United  --  LWDLWL






LAST TIME OUT
AFC Wimbledon 0  Fleetwood T 3  (Tues)

AFC Bournemouth 2  West Ham United 0

The Dons arrive into this important FA Cup game still sat at the bottom of League One although the performances have improved since the arrival of Wally Downes and coach Glyn Hodges. This will be a nice little distraction and a live TV game to hopefully show that we are still able to battle. Who knows what will happen, it's the magic of the cup, and as long as we pull together and try our best anything is possible. 

Updates will be published with team news and more as and when it comes through. Midfielder Anthony Hartigan is suspended for the Dons, while Steve Seddon is cup tied. West Ham full-back Ryan Fredericks could return after three months out with a calf injury.

West Ham's back-up keeper Adrian will start, with youngsters Xande Silva and Grady Diangana expected to feature. Marko Arnautovic, who wants to leave the club, has trained this week but boss Manuel Pellegrini has not said if the forward will play - He Doesn't.

Line Ups (Confirmed);

AFC WIMBLEDON

Odds -- 8/1 (William Hill) 

Ramsdale (Gk),  Watson,  Thomas,  McDonald,  Oshilaja (c),  Nightingale,  Wordsworth,  Connolly,  Pinnock,  Wagstaff,  Appiah

Subs – McDonnell (Gk),  Jervis,  Garratt,  Trotter,  Sibbick,  Soares,  Piggot

WEST HAM UNITED 

Odds -- 1/3 (William Hill) 

Adrian (Gk),  Antonio,  Diop,  Ogbonna,  Masuaku  ,  Noble (c),  Obiang,  Snodgrass,  Diangana,  Carroll,  Hernández

Subs – Fabianski (Gk),  Fredericks  ,  Pérez,  Holland,  Rice,  Coventry,  Anderson 

H/T Score – 2 - 0  (Appiah 34', Wagstaff 41')

First Half Comment;

West Ham kicked off tonight in the rain and wind and we're underway. A strong West Ham side here so they fancy this, but Millwall did beat Everton so it's all possible. The Hammers start positively and win a corner in the first minute but it comes to nothing, then Dylan Connolly makes himself known with a good run and cross resulting in a Dons corner a shot from Thomas goes over. Looks like we are up for this with Connolly creating chances sadly they fall to a defender then West Ham break and Hernandez hits the post (save by Ramsdale) and we're still 0-0. Pinnock has chances but straight at Adrian it's still very even this half with half hour played and Dylan Connolly is causing all sorts of trouble. 

GOAL #1 ... Wimbledon take the lead albeit with a deflected shot from Kwesi Appiah on 34 mins. Kingsmeadow goes wild, and another upset on the cards. Keep Calm. 

GOAL #2... OMG we've only gone and scored again. Scott Wagstaff waltzes through unchallenged and beats Adrian to double our lead. Why cant we play like this in the league. 

F/T Score – 4 - 2
(Appiah 34', Wagstaff 41', 46' , Sibbick '90    Perez 57', Anderson 71')

Match Summary;

West Ham make a triple change at Half Time but within a moment of the kick off it really doesn't matter Goal #3 ... Scott Wagstaff scores again in the first minute of the second half and this is unbelievable Jeff. Three nil and surely this is all over as a contest. That is until the Hammers get one back from Lucas Perez and it's 3-1 with about half hour to go. Nervous last 15 mins as a wonderful free kick from Anderson makes it 3-2 and maybe the dream is beginning to fade? Still time but we done well to take it to the last ten minutes with the lead but hanging on.

Tony Sibbick comes on and scores !! And that's the game done. 4-2 Dons, bring on Man U or someone in 5th Round.

My Man of the Match – Scott Wagstaff.

Referee -- Our referee for this important fourth round FA Cup tie will be Anthony Taylor, from Manchester, the 40 year old official has been in charge of games since 2002 (when we reformed) and has been a Premier League official since 2010 as well as holding a FIFA listing too. Hope he has a good game and gives us a few decisions.

Attendance – 4,777. Should be sold out.

Next match:
Saturday 2nd February vs Sunderland (Away)
League One 3:00pm