AFC WIMBLEDON v ROTHERHAM -- L1 SEASON OPENER SATURDAY 3rd AUGUST 2019

At long last we can look forward to the start of another season in League One for the mighty Dons. One that should be the final season at Kingsmeadow while the new stadium on Plough Lane continues to be built and become a realisation of the last 17 years work for all concerned at the club. We now have ourselves a new CEO in Joe Palmer following the retirement before the end of last season of the great Erik Samuelson and of course we have a new management team with Wally Downes having taken over from Neal Ardley and leading us to a miracle escape from relegation together with Glyn Hodges.

So what can we expect from the new season, well last year we started badly and went on an incredible run at the end, personally I would take 5th bottom right now as securing our League One status while the new stadium is built must be the priority, I am sure there are many others who expect much bigger things but seriously on the budget we have and the signings made so far it's hard to think more than stability and consolidation for the initial months with maybe another nice cup run to bring a few quid in too. Beating the horrible Franchise in the League and League Cup would also be very welcome.  

FORM GUIDE 
(Last 6 matches from last season in their respective leagues, starting with most recent)
AFC Wimbledon -- DWDDDD
Rotherham -- LLLLDL

Updates will be published with team news and more as and when it comes through. Expecting that Will Nightingale will continue to wear the captain's armband this season and we hope to see Joe Pigott scoring the goals, though plenty required from elsewhere so will see if any of the new youngsters such as Nesta Guinness-Walker can shine. A new goalkeeper too Nathan Trott who comes with a good reputation from West Ham's academy and will have some big shoes to fill after last season survival hero Aaron Ramsdale who was quickly voted a fans favourite and it was sad to see him go back to his parent club Bournemouth.

Last year we had to shift our shirt sponsorship to the Assistant manager Glyn Hodges but this year we have a player to follow and are sponsoring the home shirt of defender Terell Thomas (pictured left). Good luck Terell and hopefully we'll see you pop up for a vital goal or two this season. 

Looks like an injury to our loanee goalkeeper Nathan Trott so he's gone back to West Ham meaning we rely on Nik Tzanev in goal today.

Line Ups (Confirmed);

AFC WIMBLEDON

Odds -- 2/1 (William Hill) 

Tzanev (GK),  McDonald,  Kalambayi,  Nightingale (c),  O'Neill,  Hartigan,  Thomas,  Reilly  ,  Guinness-Walker,  Folivi,  Pigott ⚽

Subs – McDonnell (GK),  Wagstaff,  Appiah,  Pinnock,  Rudoni,  Connolly,  McLoughlin

ROTHERHAM UNITED

Odds --  13/8 (William Hill) 

Iverson (GK),  Olosunde,  Ihiekwe,  Robertson ⚽,  Mattock,  Barlaser,  MacDonald,  Crooks,  Ladapo ⚽,  Smith,  Vassell

Subs – Price (Gk),  Wood,  Wiles,  Proctor,  Morris,  Lindsay,  Southern-Cooper

  

UPDATE CAPTAIN FOR 2019-20 Season | Wally Downes has confirmed that Will Nightingale will be our club captain for the season. Good luck Will and hopefully you stay injury free this season.

⚽H/T Score – 0 - 1

First Half Comment;
It was the visitors who got our League One campaign underway and the opening 10-15 mins has been dominated by them without really causing too much trouble for Tzanev in the Dons goal. Surprised it took as long as 29 mins before the opening goal goes in and it's Freddie Ladapo who makes the breakthrough for Rotherham with a left footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal. At least it's only one nil at half time, we have been poor I know it's only the opening game but smells like another season in the bottom half.

⚽F/T Score – 1 - 2

Match Summary;
A poor first half, but we made it a game early in the second half as Joe Pigott equalises for AFC Wimbledon with a header from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner on 50 mins. Assisted by Anthony Hartigan with a cross following a corner. Just when you think you going to get a hard earned point up pops Clark Robertson who puts Rotherham United 2-1 up with a right footed shot from the centre of the box following a corner on 84 mins. Can we get another equaliser before the whistle? 

My Man of the Match – Terell Thomas.

Referee -- Our referee for this important League One fixture has been confirmed as Brett Huxtable from Devon, and he's a good omen for the Dons as he took charge of our 1-0 win against Southend and also the final game when we drew 0-0 at Bradford to keep us in the league. Can be card happy, but usually the start of the season can be a bit quiet. 

Attendance – 4,657.  [Reported sales suggest this is close to a sell out already so expecting near capacity]

Next match:
Saturday 10th August vs Fleetwood Town (Away)
League One 3:00pm