AFC WIMBLEDON v BURTON ALBION LEAGUE ONE TUESDAY 28th JANUARY 2020

While the start of 2020 wasn't our best we've certainly improved of late, winning at home against Peterborough United when we'd just lost our in form striker was a big positive force, and off the field while we still wait for some new signings before the end of January the Dons Bond has been launched and is currently just shy of £1m raised in it's opening week !! You can click here to see details of the Dons Bond, and to steal their catch phrase "It's Time We Had a Home Game". No game for us on the weekend as it was FA Cup games (we would have had Oxford in League) so this Tuesday we have Burton Albion travelling to Kingsmeadow and after that last win against The Posh we are in 19th place on just 27 points and five points above the drop zone ahead of MK Franchise Scum FC and Tranmere Rovers. We've played against Burton 11 times in the Football League since 2011, Dons winning three times, Burton winning five and there have been three draws. Burton have won all three meetings in League One during which AFC Wimbledon have failed to score a single goal, so we must change this stat.

FORM GUIDE
(Last 6 matches in league one, the most recent result shown from left to right)
AFC Wimbledon -- WLDLWL
Burton Albion -- DWWWLW

LAST TIME OUT

AFC Wimbledon 1 Peterborough United 0

Burton Albion 1  Accrington Stanley 1

Updates will be published with team updates and more news as and when it comes through. Burton Albion are of course managed by Nigel Clough and currently sit in 9th place in the League One table on 40 points after their draw on the weekend against Accrington Stanley. They are massive over achievers when you look at the history, recently in the Championship and semi finalists in the league cup last season after wins over Shrewsbury, Aston Villa, Burnley, Nottingham Forest and Middlesbrough before coming up against Premier League Champions Manchester City, Burton lost the first leg 9–0 at the Etihad Stadium, eventually losing 10–0 on aggregate. Their recent home game attendance was under 3000, and there are many comparisons with the Dons side that did so well in the football leagues back in the 80s and 90s. That they can also attract loan signings from Premier League sides such as goalkeeper Kieran O'Hara (on loan from Manchester United) and Welsh U21 forward Nathan Broadhead (on loan from Everton) shows the high regard that the side has and the respect that a top player like Nigel Clough can command even in League One. Will be a tough ask, but the Dons often play better against higher placed opposition so a midweek encounter could be good for us. NEWS - Dons signed a new goalkeeper today Joe Day from Cardiff, goes straight into the 1st team tonight and therefore we assume that Nathan Trott has returned to West Ham.

Starting Line Ups (Confirmed);

AFC WIMBLEDON

Odds -- 5/2 (William Hill) 

Day (Gk),  O'Neill,  🟨Hartigan,  Thomas,  ⚽Pinnock,  Wagstaff,  🟨Rudoni,  ⚽Reilly,  Osew,  Sorensen,  Pigott (c)

Subs – McDonnell (Gk),  Roscrow,  Guinness-Walker,  McLoughlin,  Wood,  Biler,  Wordsworth

BURTON ALBION

Odds -- 21/20 (William Hill) 

O'Hara (Gk),  Brayford,  O'Toole,  Nartey,  Daniel,  Edwards,  Shaughnessy, 🟨Quinn, ⚽Powell,  ⚽Murphy,  Akins

Subs –  Garratt (Gk),  Buxton,  Wallace,  Fraser,  Templeton,  Sbarra,  Sarkic

Selected Bets on today's match;
Wimbledon to win and BOTH teams to score @5/1.
Over 1.5 Goals (1st half) @9/4.  WON⚽⚽
Penalty Awarded and Scored @9/2.

Red Card in the match @6/1.

⚽H/T Score – 1 - 2    [Pinnock 16'  /  Powell 7', Murphy 41']

First Half Comment;
The visitors kick off and we are underway on a very cold night here at Kingsmeadow. it's the Dons though who start the quicker and winning the opening corner but sadly nothing comes of that. The good opening spell doesn't last long and our new keeper is beaten on seven minutes by Joe Powell to give the visitors an early lead. The Dons do fight back are equalise on seventeen minutes when Mitch Pinnock slots home and we all square again. Not too many opportunities during the rest of the half, other than for Burton who also have Stephen Quinn booked for a late challenge then with under five minutes to go till the break Burton retake the lead with a Jamie Murphy header past Dons keeper Day.

⚽F/T Score – 2 - 2

Match Summary;
A hard fought and well earned point with the 2-2 draw, the Dons came back twice and against a top six side that's not a bad effort, every point is precious and at least two sides above us are in reach with a small gap beginning to grow beneath us too.

My Man of the Match – Mitchell Pinnock.

Referee -- Our match official for this game will be JOHN BUSBY who has taken charge of us earlier in the season (1-1 draw against Accrington) does like a card or three, and averages about 4 a game, will be assisted on the touchlines by Conor Farrell and Paul Lister. Once again our Fourth Official will be Mr Anthony Da Costa who will probably have less to do tonight.

Attendance – 3,674.

Next league match:
Saturday 1st February vs Accrington Stanley (Away)
League One Kick off 3:00pm