FA CUP FIRST ROUND -- AFC WIMBLEDON vs DONCASTER ROVERS SATURDAY 9th NOVEMBER 2019

This weekend the Dons will play host to Doncaster Rovers in the first round of this seasons FA Cup. It's a chance to progress as we did last season and potentially pick up some much needed prize money but the opening round is a difficult hurdle at least we are at home. Whatever the outcome here today the main priority is the league form however the Dons will play Doncaster again in the league at home on 14th December so if we cannot progress here today at least we'll have our revenge then yes? 

Doncaster are managed by ex Jamaican International Darren Moore. They currently find themselves in 11th place on 23 points in League One but we all know league form goes out the window in the cup so let's get into them today.

• AFC Wimbledon have won their two home encounters against Doncaster, winning 2-0 in August 2017 and March 2019, both coming in League One matches.
• Doncaster have failed to score in three of their four games against AFC Wimbledon, the only exception being a 2-1 victory at home in November 2018.
• AFC Wimbledon embarked on their best ever FA Cup run last season, making it into the fifth round before being defeated by Millwall. The Dons have made the second round in each of their last three seasons.
• After losing their first four FA Cup ties away to London clubs, Doncaster have won each of their last three, keeping clean sheets in each contest.

FORM GUIDE

(Last 6 matches in league one, starting with most recent)
AFC Wimbledon -- DLWWWL
Doncaster Rovers -- DWWLLD

LAST TIME OUT

AFC Wimbledon 1 Lincoln City 1

Doncaster Rovers 2 Burton Albion 2

Updates will be published with team news and more news as and when it comes through. Wimbledon's recent form is fairly good having picking up some vital points to take us out of the drop zone last weekend, of course no points to be had here today, just cup glory and a step ahead to a big tie later on (maybe). Glyn Hodges now in charge of course, while I wouldn't be that fussed if we didn't progress as I want the league form to continue as survival is a must with the new stadium going up on Plough Lane. While both sides secured draws last weekend I would still expect Doncaster to start this as favourites, one of their key players is the ever green James Coppinger (38yrs) I hope our loan players are allowed to play even though they would become cup tied alas it seems that Brentford will not allow Marcus Forss to play which seems to suggest he might be recalled in January, an opportunity for Kwesi Appiah to have a start I suspect.

Line Ups (Confirmed);

AFC WIMBLEDON

Odds -- 5/2 (William Hill) 

Trott (Gk),  O'Neill,  Kalambayi,  Thomas,  Wagstaff (c),  Hartigan, 🟨Pinnock,  McLoughlin,  Osew,  ⚽Pigott,  Appiah

Subs – Tsaznev (Gk),  Stabana,  Guinness-Walker,  Robinson,  Madelin,  Reilly,  Macnab

DONCASTER ROVERS
Odds -- 21/20 (William Hill) 

Dieng (Gk),  Halliday,  ⚽Anderson,  🟨Wright,  🟨Amos,  Sheaf,  Gomes,  Sadlier,  Coppinger (c),  Taylor,  Thomas

Subs –  Lawlor (Gk),  Bingham,  May,  Blaney,  Longbottom,  Watters,  Greaves

⚽H/T Score – 1 - 0  [Pigott 43']

First Half Comment;

It's Doncaster that get us underway for this season's FA Cup campaign here at Kingsmeadow on a cold and wet afternoon. Defender Paul Osew has the Dons first shot on goal but skews his effort wide of the goal, open first fifteen minutes and fairly even without further threats on either goal as yet. The half doesn't really come to life and still very even, exchanging corners and attempts but still no goals with Trott keeping the Dons goal intact. At last the breakthrough and on 43 minutes its Joe Pigott heading home to put AFC Wimbledon ahead in the cup with half team almost upon us.

⚽F/T Score – 1 - 1  [Anderson 63']

Match Summary;

Both sides battled to a place in the second round draw on Monday night but having held a slender lead at half time Doncaster equalised just after the hour mark when Tom Anderson headed home following a corner. Was a fairly even game overall and a draw, while disappointing, was probably the right result meaning a replay back at the Keepmoat Stadium.

My Man of the Match – Terell Thomas.

Referee -- Our referee for this afternoon's first round FA Cup tie will be Darren Drysdale from Lincolnshire, and a stalwart of the league having started his first game with the whistle back in 1988 and has been a couple of seasons since he last took charge of a Dons game (2-2 draw vs Bury). Averages about 4 bookings a game over recent seasons and will have some assistance from Oliver Jackson and Paul Kelly.

Attendance – 2,777. 

Next league match:
Saturday 16th November vs Blackpool (away)
League One 3:00pm