AFC WIMBLEDON v OXFORD UNITED -- LEAGUE ONE 2018-19 SEASON 13th APRIL

This weekend the Dons will visit Oxford United in League One, a fixture that for many years you just knew would end badly but thankfully since we got back into the football league our fortunes have improved somewhat. The match at the Kassam Stadium brings together two in-form sides and Wally Downes’ boys have an opportunity to move out of the bottom four with a victory. The reverse fixture at Kingsmeadow last September saw a 2-1 win for the Dons with goals from Scott Wagstaff and Joe Pigott and a repeat of that would certainly be welcome. After last weekend's 1-1 draw against Accrington Stanley the Dons still find themselves in the bottom four and games beginning to run out it would be a good time to secure another win and survival is now very possible if we take more points from the games against the teams around us and that includes today's opponents.

Oxford United have ex-franchise manager Karl Robinson to help wind up the travelling fans and they find themselves in 12th place on 52 points in League One and are probably safe again for another season after last weekend's 3-1 away win at Walsall. They are 9 points above the drop zone as of today but a run of four wins recently have probably made them safe. Realistically anyone from 14th place Plymouth downwards is still in the relegation fight, with only five games to go for most. This is still very much a key game for both sides but mostly for the Dons. 

FORM GUIDE
(Last 6 matches in the league, starting with most recent)
AFC Wimbledon -- DLWWWD
Oxford United -- WWWWDL

LAST TIME OUT

AFC Wimbledon 1 Accrington Stanley 1

Walsall 1 Oxford Utd 3






Updates will be published with team news and more news as and when it comes through. Dons recent form is fairly good and picking up points gives us a chance now, it wasn't that long ago we were 10 points off safety, now it's just goal difference and the fans will certainly continue to believe. Going to be very cold and grey out there, maybe the action on the pitch will warm the crowd, hopefully we'll have Dylan Connolly fit to fly down the wings (he's usually on the subs bench sadly) and some more luck in front of goal today as another win will surely take us out of the relegation spots. 

Time to FEED THE PIG. Come on you Dons.
Line Ups (Confirmed);

AFC WIMBLEDON

Odds -- 3/1 (William Hill) 

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

Subs – McDonnel (Gk),  Oshilaja,  Pinnock,  Connolly,    McLoughlin,  Folivi

OXFORD UNITED

Odds -- 6/5 (William Hill) 

Eastwood (Gk),  Long,  Nelson,  Dickie,  Ruffels,  Sykes,  Mousinho (c),  Brannagan,  Whyte,  Sinclair,  Garbutt

Subs –  Stevens (Gk),  Hanson,  Carruthers,  Henry,  Graham,  Mackie,  Napa

H/T Score – 0 - 0

First Half Comment;

The Dons get us underway at the Kassam Stadium with the away fans filling up their allocation nicely I hope we start brightly and James Hanson has the first chance for Wimbledon with a header over the bar, but it's a bright start to the game in the opening ten minutes. Oxford then take their turn to attack and despite winning a few corners the Dons back line are able to keep them at bay as the half way point of the first half is already upon us. The only concern so far is a facial injury to Joe Pigott which keeps needing attention. 

Oxford hit the post with a good shot but aside from that there haven't been many really big chances this half just a couple of half hearted penalty appeals that the referee waves off (rightly so). So as half time approaches we ponder if this is will be a good point earned or a chance missed. Goalless as we reach half time. 

F/T Score – 0 - 0

Match Summary;

A hard earned point but we are still in the bottom four, no shots on target for the Dons tells the story but as Oxford had come into this with four wins and bossed the game it does have to be seen as a good result. Plenty of support for the lads today, shame we couldn't win but we still in with a chance. Games are running out but with Bristol Rovers next up on Good Friday it might just be a last minute escape.

My Man of the Match – Aaron Ramsdale (Dons).

Referee -- Our referee for this afternoon's big relegation survival game will be Mr Alan Young from Cambridge and will be ably assisted no doubt by Paul Lister and Hristo Karaivanov. Mr Young in charge isn't a good omen, having been referee for us earlier in the year with back to back 1-0 defeats to Bradford and Plymouth so he owes us one. 

Attendance – 7,678. [1,301 Dons fans!]

Next match:
Friday 19th April vs Bristol Rovers (Home)
League One 3:00pm