AFC WIMBLEDON v PORTSMOUTH LEAGUE ONE SATURDAY 19th OCTOBER 2019

Welcome to our next home game of this season having finally found our goal scoring boots and achieved that elusive first win the other week beating Rochdale 3-2, the Dons then followed it up with a handsome 1-4 away victory at Southend United last Saturday all under stand in manager Glyn Hodges. We now look forward to this Saturday when we will be hosting the mighty Portsmouth FC at Kingsmeadow. Those wins had taken us out of the bottom three until Sunday afternoon when Tranmere won but it's still a great boost for morale and there is a strong attacking threat now from the likes of Joe Pigott and Marcus Forss who nabbed a hat trick in that latest win at Southend. Off the field our manager Wally Downes has been suspended for four weeks by the Football League for admitting a charge of betting on matches although none of this occurred while in charge of the Dons, so until mid November Glyn Hodges continues in charge of first team affairs and may his success continue.

FORM GUIDE
(Last 6 matches in league one, starting with their most recent)
AFC Wimbledon -- WWLLLD
Portsmouth -- DWWLDD

LAST TIME OUT

Southend United 1 v 4 AFC Wimbledon
Portsmouth 0 v 0 Gillingham

While the Dons were winning at fellow relegation threatened Southend United, Portsmouth were being held to a goalless draw at home by Gillingham and that will surely begin to put pressure on their manager Kenny Jackett as they were one of the favourites for promotion this season (and indeed the previous season) yet don't appear to be scoring enough goals. Their latest draw left Pompy in 16th position on 13 points in the league one table. Our last meeting with Portsmouth was back at the beginning of the year when the south coast side won 2-1 on New Years Day at Fratton Park.

Line ups (Confirmed);

AFC WIMBLEDON

Odds -- 13/5 (William Hill) 

Trott (GK),  ⚽Thomas,  Delaney,  Kalambayi,  Wordsworth, Wagstaff (c),  Pinnock,  Sanders,  Osew,  Forss,  Pigott

Subs – Tzanev (GK),  Hartigan,  Stabana,  McLoughlin,  Madelin,  Guinness-Walker,  Appiah

PORTSMOUTH

Odds --  11/10 (William Hill) 

MacGillivray (Gk),  Bolton,  Burgess,  Raggett,  Brown,  Naylor,  Close,  Harness,  Evans,  Williams,  Marquis 

Subs – Bass (Gk),  Downing,  Curtis,  Cannon,  McCrorie,  Harrison,  Haunstrup  

Selected Bets on today's match;

  Marcus Forss to score first @4/1.
  Marcus Forss to score 2 or more @8/1.
  Penalty Awarded in match @4/1.
  Red Card in match @6/1.

⚽H/T Score – 0 - 0

First Half Comment;

The Dons kick us off today and with blue skies in the air we are underway at Kingsmeadow. Not much to shout about in the opening twenty minutes with an even start, couple of corners apiece and only a shot from Forss (Dons) and Marquis (Pompy) to speak of, neither of which trouble the keeper in fact as we write this there are NO Goals at all in League One yet (and then Oxford score away at Rotherham, well done). Portsmouth are carrying the biggest threat as we reach the half hour and Christian Burgess rattles the bar with a header from the centre of the area, another Pompy header is saved by Trott in the Dons goal still 0-0 though. Portsmouth pick up a couple of bookings and the first half ends all square.

⚽F/T Score – 1 - 0  [Thomas 90'+2]

Match Summary;
Wow. Three league wins on the bounce and an injury time winner for the Dons courtesy of OUR sponsored player Terell Thomas who hit the winner, and that takes us out of the relegation zone dropping Accrington in our place.

My Man of the Match – Anthony Wordsworth.

Referee -- Our referee today is confirmed as Sam Purkiss who has been both an assistant and full time referee for some seasons now, will be assisted by Paul Yates and Nicholas Cooper on the touchline and our fourth official will be Andrew Aylott.

Attendance – 4,525.  

Next league match:
Tuesday 22nd October vs Burton Albion (Away)
League One 7:45pm