AFC WIMBLEDON v BRISTOL ROVERS -- LEAGUE ONE 2018-19 SEASON 19th APRIL

This Easter weekend could be pivotal in the Dons survival quest and we begin on Good Friday with a home game against fellow strugglers Bristol Rovers where the three points are needed as we have runaway leaders Luton Town after the Easter break to follow (that game has been moved from Easter Monday to the Tuesday evening). Back to back draws against Accrington Stanley (1-1) and Oxford United (0-0) does mean that the Dons remain in the bottom four, 21st position, one point off the safe zone with only four games left of the season. 

I would still be including everyone from 14th position down as still being in the relegation dogfight and that includes our opponents today Bristol Rovers (14th on 49 points). Rovers beat Bradford City last weekend 3-2 thanks to a late winner from Jonson Clarke-Harris to disappoint the "doomed" bantams who had only just equalised themselves. This is a winnable game for us though, we still in decent form and held a good Oxford side away last weekend so home support and a little bit of luck we might finally get that win that would take us out of the relegation places before the last week games. 

FORM GUIDE 
(Last 6 matches in the league, starting with most recent)

AFC Wimbledon -- DDWLWW
Bristol Rovers -- WDLLDD








LAST TIME OUT

Oxford U 0  AFC Wimbledon 0

Bristol Rovers 3  Bradford City 2





Updates will be published with team news and more news as and when it comes through. It's not considered as an all ticket match but with the Easter Holidays and only a few games left it may well prove to be very popular and close to a sell out crowd expected the Dons recent form is good and the fans will certainly begin to believe. The game is now Sold Out. Going to be less cold and grey out there, a lovely Easter weekend is forecast hopefully the action on the pitch will also warm up the crowd, hopefully we'll have all strikers fit and ready especially if winger Dylan Connolly fit to fly down the wings (he's on the subs bench again today sadly) and a good service to Joe Pigott to steer us to safety. Some more luck in front of goal today as another win will surely bring us out of the bottom four at last and in amongst a host of sides above us. Come on you Dons.  FEED THE PIG !! (YES) 

Line Ups (Confirmed);

AFC WIMBLEDON

Odds -- 7/5 (William Hill) 

Ramsdale (Gk),   Nightingale,  Seddon,  Kalambayi,  Sibbick,  Wagstaff,  Hanson,  Hartigan,  McDonald,  Pigott,  Wordsworth

Subs – McDonnel (Gk),  Thomas,  Pinnock,  Connolly,  Soares,  McLoughlin,  Folivi

BRISTOL ROVERS

Odds -- 9/4 (William Hill) 

Bonham (Gk),  Partington,  Craig,  Holmes-Dennis,  J Clarke,   Lockyer (c),  Upson,  Reilly,   O'Clarke,  Ogogo,  Clarke-Harris

Subs –  Smith (Gk),  Sercombe,  Nichols,  Jakubiak,  Sinclair,  Kilgour,  Rodman

H/T Score – 1 - 0 (Pigott 22')

First Half Comment;

The Dons get us underway on Good Friday here at Kingsmeadow, a sell out crowd and lots to cheer about we hope. Plenty of possession and movement but no clear cut chances in the opening fifteen minutes, lets settle down and play. Still nothing to report as the Dons win their first corner on the twenty minute mark, the corner is cleared but the opening goal comes soon after from Joe Pigott who receives a lovely pass from Anthony Hartigan and The Pig superbly curls his shot over the Rovers keeper into the corner 1-0 Dons. Feed The Pig!  Rovers captain Tom Lockyer is booked on 43 mins and the Dons see out the opening half to go in with a small but deserved 1-0 lead. 

F/T Score – 1 - 1

Match Summary;

Gutted we threw away another glorious opportunity to climb out of the bottom four, throw away a lead and allow attack after attack it was only a matter of time before Bristol equalised which they did with a superb goal. Still in 21st place and we have Luton next so it's going to need something against Wycombe now. So disappointing all that work and it's keeps on going to waste.

My Man of the Match – Aaron Ramsdale (again, some outstanding saves and player of the season favourite).

Referee -- Our referee for this afternoon's big relegation survival game will be Graham Salisbury (56) from Lancashire, ably assisted today by Nicholas Cooper and Stephen Brown. This is his first Dons fixture of the season and has divided his duties between League One and League Two this term. Doesn't appear to be too card happy, averages about three a match and only three reds all season.  

Attendance – 4,850. A full house and great support.

Next match:
Tuesday 23rd April vs Luton Town (Away)
League One 7:45pm