AFC WIMBLEDON v DONCASTER ROVERS LEAGUE ONE SATURDAY 14th DECEMBER 2019

This weekend the Dons will play host to Doncaster Rovers in League One, coming on the back of a disappointing draw against Bolton Wanderers last weekend (conceding a 95th min equaliser to draw 2-2) leaves the Dons in 19th place on just 17 points. Donny of course knocked us out of the FA Cup recently in a replay so a little bit of revenge is needed today, plus the three points would be very useful given the two points thrown away last week at Bolton. Top scorer Marcus Forss is back amongst the goals (has 9 from 13 games for the Dons) which is great and we continue under the captaincy of Scott Wagstaff. Off the field it's been a difficult week with a meeting of the Dons Trust members to discuss the finances of the new stadium and the consequences of being a league club with a new stadium to build more on that development as it unfolds. Ex Dons Manager Terry Brown returns for a visit and he'll always be given a great welcome for all he did in our progress through the leagues, thank you Terry!

FORM GUIDE

(Last 6 matches in league one, starting with the most recent)
AFC Wimbledon -- DWLDLW
Doncaster Rovers -- DLDWWL

LAST TIME OUT

Bolton W 2  AFC Wimbledon 2 

Doncaster R 1  Franchise Scum FC 1

Updates will be published with team news and more news as and when it comes through. Our opponents Doncaster are currently 13th in the league on 24 points and will be looking to follow up their earlier FA Cup win against us. 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) while the Rovers captain Ben Whiteman has agreed an extension to his contract, keeping him at the League One club until the summer of 2023. Going to be cold and windy, lets try and hang onto the win this time lads, Joe Pigott takes the captain's armband with Scott Wagstaff ruled out due to injury.

Starting Line Ups (Confirmed);

AFC WIMBLEDON

Odds -- 13/5 (William Hill) 

Trott (Gk),  O'Neill,  McDonald,  Thomas,  Pinnock,  Sanders,  McLoughlin,  ⚽Reilly,  Osew, ⚽Forss,  Pigott (c)

Subs – McDonnell (Gk),  Hartigan,  Rudoni,  Guinness-Walker,  Delaney,  Robinson,  Biler

DONCASTER ROVERS

Odds -- 11/10 (William Hill) 

Dieng (Gk),  Halliday,  🟨Daniels,  John,  James,  Whiteman,  Sheaf,  Bingham,  Coppinger (c),  🟨Sadlier,  ⚽Thomas

Subs –  Jones (Gk),  Wright,  Taylor,  Gomes,  May,  Watters,  Ennis 

Selected Bets on today's match;

Wimbledon to win and BOTH teams to score @5/1. YES!!

Marcus Forss or James Coppingger to score 1st Goal @5/1.

Penalty Awards and Scored @9/2. YES!!

Red Card in the match @11/2.

⚽H/T Score – 0 - 1  [Thomas 12']

First Half Comment;

It's Wimbledon who kick us off at Kingsmeadow but Doncaster Rovers have the first opportunity immediately with a Kieran Sadlier shot saved by Nathan Trott in the opening minute and again from the same player only a minute later. No surprise when Kwame Thomas opens the scoring for Doncaster with a header from very close range to the bottom left corner after a cross from Reece James following a corner sadly it's been coming and we are only 12 mins in. The Dons do try and come back a little as the half progresses with our sponsored player Terell Thomas has a header wide following a corner and set pieces look our best chance. The only crumb of comfort is that it's only 0-1 given the dominance and chances, that and the fact the teams below us are also useless but can we really rely on that all season to stay up? Things need to change in the second half.

⚽F/T Score – 2 - 1   [Forss (pen) 56'  Reilly 70']

Match Summary;

Wow what a turnaround in the second half, first a penalty from Marcus Forss and then Callum Reilly put us ahead on 70 minutes and suddenly we look like a team again, staying ahead of the drop zone and in touch with several other teams above us which is great. Warms you up on a cold December afternoon.

My Man of the Match – Nathan Trott (kept us in the game in the first half, it could have been all over).

Referee -- Our referee for this afternoon's big game will be Nicholas Kinseley from Essex. 🟨 🟥Averages just over three bookings a game this season and has dished out four red cards too including one to Marcus Forss in our 1-3 defeat by Bristol Rovers so will certainly have a look at that market later. His assistants will be Leigh Crowhurst along with Adrian Tranter.

Attendance – 4,311. 

Next league match:
Saturday 21st December vs Tranmere Rovers (Away)
League One Kick off 3:00pm